VOA标准英语2012--Data Boosts US Economic Outlook
时间：2019-01-14 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2012年(十月)
Data Boosts US Economic Outlook
An improving job picture, better than expected earnings 1 on Wall Street and signs of recovery in the troubled housing market are helping 2 to lift American consumer confidence.
Many opened their wallets in September, boosting retail 3 sales 1.1 percent -- and giving retailers 4 an early start on the holiday shopping season.
Economist 5 Cary Leahey says electronics led gains, with the launch of Apple's newest iPhone lifting sales in that sector 6 - 4.5 percent.
"I've even seen people say out loud Christmas came early, I bought myself an iPhone. So I think Christmas has come early, and it's off to a very good start," Leahey said.
Higher gasoline prices also contributed to the increase in consumer spending - which accounts for nearly two thirds of the US economy. Americans also bought more cars and spent more money on food and drinks.
That could prompt companies to restock store shelves at a faster rate ahead of November's Black Friday - a day that traditionally marks the start of the holiday shopping season.
And this year, Retail Strategist Clementine Illanes says companies are paying greater attention to customer preferences.
"They are getting better at really understanding their customers. So really mining data, looking at analytics (statistical analysis) to be able to target their customers much more uniquely depending on what that specific customer is actually looking for," Illanes said.
But while the economic data is encouraging, Hong Kong investor 7 Jackson Wong says it's too early to make assumptions.
"One-month data doesn't indicate too strongly. However when we look at export data from China was increasing and the U.S. data - retail sales data-- was increasing, that means the economy activities are picking up," Wong said.
The increase in retail spending has prompted some economists 8 to revise growth estimates from 1.6 to 2 percent in the third quarter. Some say sales of the new iPhone 5 alone could add one third of one percent to U.S. gross domestic product from July to September.
- That old man lives on the earnings of his daughter.那个老人靠他女儿的收入维持生活。
- Last year there was a 20% decrease in his earnings.去年他的收入减少了20%。
- The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
- By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。
- In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
- These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。
- High street retailers reported a marked increase in sales before Christmas. 商业街的零售商报告说圣诞节前销售量显著提高。
- Retailers have a statutory duty to provide goods suitable for their purpose. 零售商有为他们提供符合要求的货品的法定义务。
- He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
- He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。
- The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
- The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。
- My nephew is a cautious investor.我侄子是个小心谨慎的投资者。
- The investor believes that his investment will pay off handsomely soon.这个投资者相信他的投资不久会有相当大的收益。
- 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》