ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION'S OUTLOOK UPDATE ANTICIPATES MORE COMPETITION BETWEEN COAL AND NATURAL GAS,BUT GAS PRODUCTION,PRICES AND DEMAND ALL HINGE ON GLOBAL ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

摘要

The Energy Information Administration's(ElA's)most recent update of its Short Term Energy Outlook,dated 3/10/09,concedes the global economic contraction continues to depress energy demand.The annual price of West Texas Intermediate(WTI)crude oil averaged 100 per barrel in 2008.The global economic slowdown is projected to cut these prices by more than half,to average 42 per barrel in 2009 and 53 in 2010.These forecasts are slightly lower than last month's Outlook.