Higher energy prices are prompting economists to reduce US growth forecasts for the third and fourth quarters of 2004.

　　The world's largest economy will grow 3.7 percent from July through September, slower than the 3.9 percent estimated last month. Economists have slashed a half percentage point from third-quarter forecasts over the past two months. Oil prices rose by almost a third this year amid concern supply was driving up the cost of gasoline and other fuels and taking money out of the pockets of consumers.

　　编辑：趴趴