Business Channel 2007-05-07&09

We have more tonight on the subject of spending. But this has to do with the American household budget. Tonight, in the State of California alone, gasoline is now at an all-time record-high price per gallon, and food prices are rising sharply these days. And it turns out there is an important link between the two. We have two reports tonight beginning with the high cost of our national auto¹ addiction². George Lewis stands by with that from Los Angeles tonight.

George, good evening.

Good evening, Brian. Gasoline hit an all-time record-high today in Los Angeles, averaging three dollars forty-one cents a gallon, according to the Auto Club. And the rest of the nation is not far behind.

It’s a daily routine now --- gas stations' posting price hikes. The national average for a regular is up more than a cent from yesterday, up thirty one cents from last month, and how high could it go?

Anything can happen this summer, I mean, right now, the path we’re on is a path towards record-high prices, maybe even four dollars a gallon.

Energy experts say accidents at refineries³ and the shortage of refining capacity are big factors driving the price hikes.

So, are people changing their driving habits. Californian Saso Casosora says he’s saving money by riding his motorcycle to work instead of his car.

To fill up my motorcycle is twelve dollars. To fill up my car will be fifty dollars. So it's almost a difference like forty dollars a week.

He is the exception. Researchers say that across the country, drivers are not overcoming their addiction to gasoline in spite of high prices.

We find that average fuel economy today from 2000 to 2005 was flat, despite a 70% increase in gas prices.

In Chicago, florist⁴ Joe Yellas says the cost of fueling up his delivery trucks is hurting his bottom line.

Some 15% more of the business of our profits.

He's had to raise delivery charges to make up the difference, something his customers hate.

They’re upset with it, like we all are.

And there’s no question people are upset.

I think gas prices are, are outrageous⁵.

And likely to get worse, as the country heads into the summer driving season.

NOTES:

1. all-time

Exceeding all others up to the present time

2. refinery⁶

A refinery is composed of a group of chemical engineering unit processes and unit operations used for refining certain materials or converting raw material into products of value.

3. bottom line

the least amount of money that you are willing to accept in a business deal

1 auto   

n.(=automobile)(口语)汽车

参考例句：

• Don't park your auto here.别把你的汽车停在这儿。
• The auto industry has brought many people to Detroit.汽车工业把许多人吸引到了底特律。

2 addiction   

n.上瘾入迷，嗜好

参考例句：

• He stole money from his parents to feed his addiction.他从父母那儿偷钱以满足自己的嗜好。
• Areas of drug dealing are hellholes of addiction,poverty and murder.贩卖毒品的地区往往是吸毒上瘾、贫困和发生谋杀的地方。

3 refineries   

精炼厂( refinery的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The efforts on closedown and suspension of small sugar refineries, small saccharin refineries and small paper mills are also being carried out in steps. 关停小糖厂、小糖精厂、小造纸厂的工作也已逐步展开。
• Hence the sitting of refineries is at a distance from population centres. 所以，炼油厂的厂址总在远离人口集中的地方。

4 florist   

n.花商；种花者

参考例句：

• The florist bunched the flowers up.花匠把花捆成花束。
• Could you stop at that florist shop over there?劳驾在那边花店停一下好不好？

5 outrageous   

adj.无理的，令人不能容忍的

参考例句：

• Her outrageous behaviour at the party offended everyone.她在聚会上的无礼行为触怒了每一个人。
• Charges for local telephone calls are particularly outrageous.本地电话资费贵得出奇。

6 refinery   

n.精炼厂，提炼厂

参考例句：

• They built a sugar refinery.他们建起了一座榨糖厂。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。