Overproduction and falling demand caused by the Asian economic crisis and the unusually mild winter has sent oil prices plummeting, while cheating has bedeviled OPECs attempts to reverse the trend by cutting production. Venezuela has been notorious for cheating, says Baumohl. Although in the new agreement theyre going to cut back production by 200,000 barrels a day, they were, in fact, producing 700,000 barrels more than their OPEC quota allowed, says Baumohl.
If the deal holds it may result in a moderate price increase, says Baumohl. If it fails, the price could fall even further and OPEC may permanently lose its power to set prices. Either way, the immediate effect for Americans will be felt in the futures markets rather than at the gas pump.