VOA标准英语2009年-More Mixed Signals on US Economy
时间：2019-01-14 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2009年(十月)
By Michael Bowman
Washington
27 October 2009
A "sold" sign in front of a home in Carmel, Indiana, 20 Oct 2009
The U.S. housing market is showing signs of improvement, but Americans have grown more pessimistic on the overall economy.
The consensus 1 view among economists 2 is that the worst recession of the post-World War II era is over, and the U.S. economy is expanding once again, albeit 3 at a moderate pace. But expectations of an economic rebound 4 have not dispelled 5 gloom among American consumers, whose confidence in the nation's economy fell unexpectedly this month.
The New York-based Conference Board reports that its closely-watched Consumer Confidence Index fell to 47.7 after posting a 53.4 reading in September. The October figure was the second-lowest since May. Although both numbers are well above an all-time low reading of 25 recorded in February, they fall significantly short of 90, a mark which would signal robust 6 consumer confidence.
Lynn Franco directs consumer research at the Conference Board.
"Consumers are growing a little more negative on what is going to happen in the economy, in the labor 7 market, and with their earnings," said Franco.
Although U.S. stock markets have rallied over the last six months and numerous economic indicators 9 have shown signs of stabilization 10, U.S. unemployment has continued to rise, and now stands at 9.8 percent. Most economists believe it will go even higher in coming months even if the U.S. economy records positive economic growth in the final months of the year. The federal government will be releasing U.S. gross domestic product data in coming days.
Consumer confidence constitutes a key indicator 8 of economic performance, as consumer spending accounts for more than two-thirds of U.S. economic activity.
Meanwhile, a private study of U.S. real estate transactions shows housing prices rose in August for the third month in a row.
Maureen Maitland is a vice 11 president at Standard and Poor's, which helped produce the study.
"The 10 and 20-city indexes both rose over the month [of August], so we have seen some real, steady increases in a lot of these numbers. And it has been very, very broad-based across most of the [real estate] markets," she said.
U.S. housing prices have been on a roller-coaster ride for much of the decade, spiking 12 to record highs from 2003 to 2006 and then plunging 13 from 2007 until a few months ago.
A rebound in the beleaguered 14 housing market is seen as vital to an economic recovery.
- Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
- What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？
- 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》
- Albeit fictional,she seemed to have resolved the problem.虽然是虚构的，但是在她看来好象是解决了问题。
- Albeit he has failed twice,he is not discouraged.虽然失败了两次，但他并没有气馁。
- The vibrations accompanying the rebound are the earth quake.伴随这种回弹的振动就是地震。
- Our evil example will rebound upon ourselves.我们的坏榜样会回到我们自己头上的。
- His speech dispelled any fears about his health. 他的发言消除了人们对他身体健康的担心。
- The sun soon dispelled the thick fog. 太阳很快驱散了浓雾。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
- China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。
- 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。
- Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation.黃金价格常常被看作是通货膨胀的指标。
- His left-hand indicator is flashing.他左手边的转向灯正在闪亮。
- The economic indicators are better than expected. 经济指标比预期的好。
- It is still difficult to develop indicators for many concepts used in social science. 为社会科学领域的许多概念确立一个指标仍然很难。
- The position of barycentre on plane directly impacts the stabilization and manipulation of plane. 飞机重心位置直接影响飞机的稳定和操纵特性。
- With the higher olefins, stabilization of the energetic intermediates occurs more easily. 在较高的烯烃情况下，高能的中间物稳定作用更易出现。
- He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
- They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。
- High spiking fever with chills is suggestive of a complicating pylephlebitis. 伴有寒战的高热，暗示合并门静脉炎。 来自辞典例句
- We could be spiking our own guns. 我们可能要遭到失败。 来自辞典例句
- War broke out again, plunging the people into misery and suffering. 战祸复发，生灵涂炭。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- He is plunging into an abyss of despair. 他陷入了绝望的深渊。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- The beleaguered party leader was forced to resign. 那位饱受指责的政党领导人被迫辞职。
- We are beleaguered by problems. 我们被许多困难所困扰。 来自《简明英汉词典》