LONDON AP Selling pressure on world markets in recent days has pushed down the average wholesale cost of cocoa to its lowest level for nearly a year and a half. The International Cocoa Organization's latest daily cocoa market indicator price fell to dlrs 1550.23 939.53 pounds per metric ton Tuesday a level last seen in June 1997. Worries about consumption prospects because of Russia's and Asia's economic problems and the improving crop outlook in the key West African producing region have recently put cocoa prices under pressure according to traders. Production prospects have also brightened in Brazil and Indonesia thanks to better weather this year traders said. Analysts say that early forecasts that global consumption of cocoa more than 95 percent of which is in chocolate and associated confectionery and beverage products would outstrip production this season now no longer look so certain. At the same time industry figures show that global stock of cocoa a big export earner for Ghana the Ivory Coast Cameroon and Nigeria remain high historically after the big boost given by the record world crop three seasons ago. ms APW19981201.0341.txt.body.html APW19981201.0692.txt.body.html