原油价格连续五天下跌

Oil prices have fallen for the fifth day in a row, weighed down by a stronger US dollar and amid concerns over demand.

受美元的强势和供需关系的影响，国际油价已连续五天下跌。

Oil prices fell by more than $1 a barrel

Prices dropped after the US Energy Information Administration lowered its forecast for global oil demand in 2010.

The dollar also gained against a basket of currencies, making oil - which is priced in dollars - more expensive for holders of other units.

US crude oil原油 for January delivery fell $1.31 to settle at $72.62 a barrel桶.

In London, Brent crude fell $1.24, settling at $75.19.

The Energy Information Administration (EIA), the forecasting arm of the Energy Department, said it expects world oil consumption next year to increase by 1.1 million barrels per day.

Last month, it had forecast consumption to grow by 1.26 million barrels per day.

"People were looking for US oil demand to be higher, and so with the cut in the EIA美国能源信息署 forecast and a smaller increase overall, that's a little disappointing," said Mark Waggoner, president of Excel Futures, a commodities商品，日用品 brokerage经纪人，佣金 in California.