VOA标准英语2008年-New Report Says US Inflation Pressures Appear t
时间：2019-01-11 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2008年（五月）
Washington
15 May 2008
The U.S. Labor 1 Department says overall prices paid by consumers rose only slightly in April. Wednesday's report shows energy costs appear to be stabilizing 2 after posting sharp gains earlier this year. Although food prices continue to rise, some economists 3 say the report should ease fears of runaway 4 inflation. However, for some lower income Americans, it may already be too late. VOA's Mil Arcega reports.
Inflation pressures appear to be easing a bit in the U.S., despite the largest increase in food prices in 18 years. A (U.S.) Labor Department report shows the consumer price index, a measure of the average price changes for goods and services, rose only two-tenths of a percent in April. In March, it rose three tenths of a percent.
But the numbers mean little to some Americans. Rising prices for basic items have already had a devastating 5 impact on some families.
Single mother, Julie Tkachuck, says after paying for gas and groceries, she had no money left to pay for electricity.
"There's something wrong with this picture," she says. "I work hard. I come home; I take care of my kids. Why am I in this situation."
Despite the hardship for some, the lower than expected price index helped ease financial market concerns, pushing Wall Street slightly higher on Wednesday.
Taking out volatile 6 food and energy costs, the Labor Department says "core" CPI rose by just one-tenth of one percent last month.
Consumer assistance groups say the irony 7 is that the number of people unable to pay their energy bills is now the highest it has been in 16 years.
Mark Wolfe is executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.
"Energy is becoming unaffordable to millions of low-income families," he says. "We don't have a good solution in place to help them."
Although gasoline prices surged higher last month, the price index reflected a two percent drop after seasonal 8 adjustments are factored in. That may be little comfort to motorists now paying record prices at the pump.
- We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
- He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。
- The disulfide bridges might then be viewed primarily as stabilizing components. 二硫桥可以被看作是初级的稳定因素。 来自辞典例句
- These stabilizing design changes are usually not desirable for steady-state operation. 这些增加稳定性的设计改变通常不太符合稳态工作的要求。 来自辞典例句
- The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
- Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The police have not found the runaway to date.警察迄今没抓到逃犯。
- He was praised for bringing up the runaway horse.他勒住了脱缰之马受到了表扬。
- It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
- Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。
- With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
- His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。
- She said to him with slight irony.她略带嘲讽地对他说。
- In her voice we could sense a certain tinge of irony.从她的声音里我们可以感到某种讥讽的意味。