Among the consuming countries, Asian gas demand grew at more than 10% last year, supporting the rise in wholesale prices.

Combined with recessions in some big consuming countries, these trends have kept oil prices down.

The International Coffee Organization, the controlling body of the agreement, represents all major coffee producing countries and most consuming countries.

Russia wants the large consuming countries to open their energy retail and distribution markets to Russian companies in exchange for allowing foreign investment here.

It's clear that responsibility for emissions from goods produced outside of the consuming country should be shared between the producer and the consumer.

But political leaders in the consuming countries have not yet shown any appetite for joining the debate.

They are said to have had little work since several consuming countries, including the United States and Japan, stopped importing ivory last summer.

the consuming countries need to get serious about curbing drug addiction.

It will still be the dead of winter in the biggest consuming countries.

In most consuming countries (that are called free marketers) effective price control is in place through the hefty taxation.