【뉴욕=AP/뉴시스】김재영 기자 = 세계 경제가 불경기로 빠질 가능성이 크다는 자료들이 나타남에 다라 원유 가격이 22일(현지시간) 6% 이상 폭락했다.  기준 원유 가격은 이날 뉴욕 시장에서 배럴당 5.41 달러나 떨어진 80.51 달러로 마감했다. 전날보다 6.3% 하락한 것으로 지난 8월9일 이후 최저가를 기록했다.  미국 밖에서 생산되는 원유 가격 산정의 기준물인 런던 시장의 브렌트유 가격은 4.4%(4.87달러) 하락, 배럴당 105.49 달러로 장을 마쳤다.  이날의 미국산 원유가는 올해 4월29일 세워진 최근 3년간 최고치 113.93 달러로부터 29%나 내린 것이다.  경제 속도가 느려지면 원유 수요도 느려진다. 지난 며칠새 침체기가 박두해 있을 수 있다는 유럽 경제전망치와 함께 중국 경제의 둔화 가능성을 시사하는 제조업 조사도 나왔다. 미 연준도 미국 경제의 성장 속도가 느려졌다고 밝힌 바 있다.   kjy@newsis.com NEW YORK (AP) - Oil prices fell more than 6 percent Thursday as gloomy data showed a world economy at risk of slipping into recession.  Benchmark crude on Thursday plunged $5.41, or 6.3 percent, to end the day at $80.51 per barrel in New York. Oil finished at the lowest point since Aug. 9.  Brent crude, which is used to price oil that's produced in foreign countries, fell $4.87, or 4.4 percent, to end at $105.49 in London.  Bad news emerged from around the globe. A closely watched survey in Europe indicated a recession could be on the horizon, and a manufacturing survey suggested a slowdown in China, which has been one of the hottest economies. Prices for stocks and other commodities also plunged.  When the economy slows, so does demand for oil.  Oil has dropped 29 percent from a three-year high of $113.93 a barrel on April 29. The price has come down because high unemployment, weak consumer confidence and expensive gasoline have slowed demand.  The Federal Reserve on Wednesday said U.S. economic growth is slow, and that labor markets and household spending could stay weak.  The central bank announced a plan to push long-term interest rates lower - in an effort to stimulate spending by consumers and businesses - but investors said it would have only minimal impact because interest rates are already near record lows.  "This is just sudden and strong confirmation that the economy is not improving," said Michael Lynch, president of Strategic Energy & Economic Research. "Energy demand is going to be very poor."  The departing chief economist of the European Central Bank issued a rare public warning that heavy government debt threatened the euro. Juergen Stark is resigning before the end of his term amid talk that he is unhappy with the way the eurozone is handling its banking crisis.  The belief that global growth is slowing is also pushing down stocks, metals and fuels made from crude.  "This is part of a huge sweeping wave of deflation that's hitting every major asset," said Tom Kloza, publisher and chief oil analyst at Oil Price Information Service.  In other energy trading, heating oil fell 8.57 cents, or 2.9 percent, to finish at $2.8485 per gallon, and gasoline futures gave up 10.65 cents, or 4 percent, to end at $2.56 per gallon. Natural gas lost 2.5 cents to end at $3.705 per 1,000 cubic feet.