Crude Price Rrise Could Plunge The World Economy
Back Into Recession: IEA Chief Economist
IEA Press Release
02 April, 2012
Iea.org
If oil averages USD 120 per barrel in 2012, the global oil import burden – defined as total spending by net importing countries on net imports of oil – is set to reach a record high of over USD 2 trillion, or USD 5.5 billion per day, IEA Chief Economist Fatih Birol has said.
Oil price spikes have preceded each global recession since the early 1970s. Today, although the oil intensity (oil consumption per unit of Gross Domestic Product) of the global economy is less, prices still matter, particularly given the fragile state of the economic recovery.
Higher energy costs are reducing households’ purchasing power, forcing them to cut back on spending on other items or to increase their debt.
"The current price levels are on average higher than the awful year of 2008, and as such have the capacity to tip the global economy back into recession," Dr. Birol said.
These slides assess how current crude prices are contributing to economic malaise. The next set of slides which focus on this issue will be released on Monday 9 April.
Slides: Impact of high oil prices on the economy
>> The link between oil prices and the macro economy is complex
>> Oil prices still matter to the global economy
>> Oil prices are scaling new heights
Due to a recent spate of abusive, racist and xenophobic comments we are forced to revise our comment policy and has put all comments on moderation que.