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World oil demand is slowing down，led by weaker economic growth in the U.S.and China，the International Energy Agency said Wednesday.While the agency didn’t say high oil prices are damping demand，weaker economic growth is projected in the world’s leading economies，as the U.S.and China lose steam from earlier strength this year and Japan’s rebound is cast in doubt as investors worry about inflationary pressures caused by the high cost of energy.
For the first time in more than half a year of constant upward revisions，the IEA，advisor to the world’s biggest economies，didn’t change its forecasts for how much more oil the world will need.
But it did increase its estimated overall demand by 750，000barrels a day，reflecting changes to historical data stretching back 10years.That left world oil demand in 2004at 82.2million b/d，up 2.53million b/d on the year.Growth will moderate in 2005to 2.2%，or 1.8million b/d，at 84million b/d.
A global slowdown is beginning to affect oil demand，according to IEA figures.
Government efforts to cool down China’s overheating economy will cut oil demand growth more than half from 24.6%in the second quarter to 9%in the third，the IEA said.But uncertainty remains about the future in China where restrictions on trucking and economic growth could push down demand，while extra refining capacity could boost it.

People from many countries find it difficult to understand how the majority of Americans live comfortable lives without the support of a public welfare system.Medical care in the United States is expensive；university education can cost ＄20，000per year；living well after a worker retires requires more money than will be paid through the Social Security System.Most Americans prepare for those needs by saving a part of their salaries in saving banks；others invest in industries or service corporations in hopes of receiving greater profits.Most Americans also buy insurance of many kinds.In buying insurance，a working person agrees to pay a set sum of money every month or at other regular intervals.In exchange，he or she receives money when needed.Life insurance guarantees a sum of money to survivors of the person in case of death.Medical and hospital insurance guarantees payment of large medical and hospital bills.There is also dental insurance and insurance that pays money when a home burns down.An American can also insure a car，furniture or other personal belongings.
Other benefits for working Americans are provided by the companies they work for or the labor unions to which they belong.
All large businesses and many smaller ones offer their workers benefits.These benefits can include free or low-cost medical insurance and life insurance.Many companies also have retirement plans.The companies put money aside to pay their workers when they retire.There are also profit-sharing plans through which extra money is put aside for workers when the company makes a great deal of money in any one year.
Many labor unions also have special funds from which workers can receive monthly checks when they retire or if they become disabled and cannot work.Some unions also pay for medicine that the workers need but which may not be purchased by medical insurance.Some pay workers a small amount of money if they lose their jobs.
The cost of higher education is usually paid by a combination of private savings，income from a part-time job held by the student，and low interest loans or grants of money given to needy students by the federal government but administered by the university.