Oil Prices Shouldn't Stall This Growth Engine

摘要

Is the 2005 economy headed for a spring break like that of 2004? The cause of last year's second-quarter soft patch can be summed up in three words:oil,oil,and oil.Spiking energy prices curtailed growth,especially for consumer spending.Now the worry is another slowdown,given that the average gasoline price hit a record US2.28 per gallon in the week ended Apr.11.