CNN Marketplace 2006-02-13

Michelle Wright: A new report from the Commerce Department reveals that we are continuing to spend more on goods from overseas than folks in foreign countries do, purchasing stuff made in the USA. That means the trade gap soared to a record level last year.
Fillip Ksiazkiewicz: "As American incomes go up and as the American economy remains 1 stronger, they will be importing and consuming more foreign goods, whereas foreign economies which are not doing so well ie. in Japan, European Union. We'll be looking more inwardly. "
Economy. com's associate economist 2, Fillip Ksiazkiewicz.
Michelle Wright: Imports outstripped 3 exports by 65. 7 billion in December. That's setting the States for a trade gap of 725. 8 billion dollars for last year.

Michelle Wright: Some of those same problems pop up on the horizon for Delta 4 Air Lines and its pilot union who say they could stage a walk-out soon.
Carrie Lee: "The company's pilot union is once again reiterating 5 that they will strike if they can't make a labor 6 agreement by a March 1 deadline. Now if they can't reach a deal by then, what happens is they go into arbitration 7. Pilot's saying they will strike if in arbitration their labor deal is nullified and management imposes new terms. " CNN's Carrie Lee.

Michelle Wright: The latest issue of consumer reports may help you feel a little bit better if you are always struggling to open that packaging that most products come in. Our Bill K. reports a new study reveals some packing is harder to open than others.
Bill K: "When you get a package, sometimes the hardest part is just getting it open. Consumer Reports (a US magazine) rates the worst of the worst. Topping the list, the hard-plastic clamshell which is often used for a cordless phone set. It couldn't be opened with scissors and took nearly nine minutes to open by using either a box cutter or razor blade. No.2 is toy packaging followed by disc and game packaging. Forth 8 is pills in blister 9 packs. And fifth, cereal boxes that never seem to tear just right, often spilling food onto the floor. Bill K. , CNN. "

Michelle Wright: And the city of Boston is the next one on tap to roll out a municipal Wi-Fi network. With CNN Radio Marketplace, I'm Michelle Wright.

WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS

outstrip :If one thing outstrips 10 another, the first thing becomes larger in amount, or more successful or important, than the second thing.
pop up :If someone or something pops up, they appear in a place or situation unexpectedly.
nullify: To nullify a legal decision or procedure means to declare that it is not legally valid 11.
clamshell :蛤壳
blister packs:泡沫塑料包装
Wi-Fi: Wireless 12 Fidelity的缩写，是一种无线传输的规范，一般的，带有这个标志的产品表明了你可以利用它们方便地组建一个无线局域网。