VOA双语新闻 - 美国四百多万人领取失业救济补助
时间:2019-02-14 作者:英语课 分类:VOA双语新闻 2008年12月
Continued economic weakness has led to another round of interest rate cuts in Europe, while the number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits has reached a 26-year high.
经济持续疲软引发欧洲新一轮利率削减,与此同时,美国申请失业救济的人数达到了26年的新高。
For the third time in as many months, the European Central Bank has slashed 1 interest rates - this time by three-quarters of a percent, the largest cut in the currency bloc's 10-year history. Central banks in Britain and Sweden cut interest rates even more aggressively.
欧洲中央银行在3个月里第三次降息,幅度为0.75个百分点,是欧元区成立10年来最大的降幅。英国和瑞典中央银行降息幅度更加大胆。
ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet says Europe's anemic economic performance has greatly reduced any risk that lower interest rates will kindle 2 inflation.
欧洲央行行长特里谢说,欧洲萧条的经济现状使得低利率引发通货膨胀的风险大为降低。
"There is increased evidence that inflationary pressures are diminishing further," he said. "The decline in inflation rates is due mainly to the fall in commodity prices and the significant slowdown in economic activity largely related to the global effects of the financial turmoil 3."
特里谢说:“越来越多的证据表明,通货膨胀的压力在进一步减小。通胀率降下来主要是由于农产品和矿产品价格下降以及经济活动的明显减少,主要是跟全球金融动荡的影响有关。”
In the United States, new claims for unemployment benefits moderated slightly last week, but still remain at levels indicative of a contracting labor 4 market. Overall, more than four million Americans are receiving unemployment benefits, the largest number since 1982.
在美国,上星期首次申请失业救济的人数稍微减少,但是仍然维持在能够显示就业市场在萎缩的水平。总体看,美国共有400多万人在领取失业补助,是1982年以来的历史新高。
Massive job cuts are no longer limited to America's battered 5 financial sector 6, according to Deutsche Bank's chief U.S. economist 7, Joseph Lavorgna.
德意志银行首席美国经济学家约瑟夫.拉沃格纳认为,大量裁员已经不再局限于美国陷入困境的金融业。
"The U.S. economy and, to a larger extent, the global economy just completely shut down," he said. "And companies are freezing all of their hiring, and in many cases laying workers off because demand [for their products] has completely collapsed 8."
拉沃格纳说:“美国经济,或者从更大范围看,全球经济已经完全停止运行。企业冻结所有的人员招聘,而且在许多情况下,正在裁减员工,因为产品需求完全崩溃了。”
The Commerce Department provided further evidence of reduced demand for goods, reporting a 5.1 percent decline in U.S. factory orders for October, the biggest drop in eight years.
美国商务部报告说,美国10月份的工厂订单减少了5.1%,是8年来的最大降幅,从而进一步证明需求下降这个事实。
In addition, with the exception of bargain outlets 9, U.S. retailers 11 are reporting weak sales figures for November.
此外,来自美国零售业的数据表示,除廉价商店之外,11月的销售疲软。
"Rising food prices and the fear about losing your savings 12, losing your job, has all kicked in [intensified], and people are learning how to just say 'no' [to non-essential purchases]. December sales will be miserable," said retail 10 analyst 13 Candace Corlett.
零售分析师科利特说:“食品价格上涨以及担心失去积蓄、失去工作,这些都是零售业绩不好的原因,而且人们现在学会对不必要的物品说‘不’。12月的零售额会非常惨。”
Many economists 14 trace the economic slowdown to a credit crunch 15 sparked by a wave of home foreclosures and mortgage defaults in the United States. To help spur lending, resuscitate 16 America's moribund 17 housing sector, and boost the economy as a whole, the Federal Reserve has aggressively cut interest rates during the past year.
许多经济学家认为经济下滑是美国房主丧失房屋赎回权和拖欠银行抵押贷款引发的信贷紧缩所致。为了帮助人们借贷、重新振兴美国奄奄一息的住房业,进而推动整体经济,美国联邦储备委员会在过去一年已经几次大幅度削减利率。
Yet, with interest rates already at historically-low levels and no evidence of a pick-up in the housing market, the Treasury 18 Department is reportedly crafting new, creative means to force mortgage rates even lower. Under one option, the federal government would invest in securities that finance loans for home purchases, stipulating 19 a significantly reduced interest rate.
The plan appeals to financial analyst Greg McBride.
"Lower mortgage rates are designed to put more buying power in the pockets of prospective 20 home buyers," he said. "That helps anybody who is trying to buy a house, but it also helps people who are trying to sell them."
But analysts 21 point out the idea would do nothing to lower mortgage payments for existing homeowners who are in danger of default.
- Someone had slashed the tyres on my car. 有人把我的汽车轮胎割破了。
- He slashed the bark off the tree with his knife. 他用刀把树皮从树上砍下。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- This wood is too wet to kindle.这木柴太湿点不着。
- A small spark was enough to kindle Lily's imagination.一星光花足以点燃莉丽的全部想象力。
- His mind was in such a turmoil that he couldn't get to sleep.内心的纷扰使他无法入睡。
- The robbery put the village in a turmoil.抢劫使全村陷入混乱。
- 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。
- He drove up in a battered old car.他开着一辆又老又破的旧车。
- The world was brutally battered but it survived.这个世界遭受了惨重的创伤,但它还是生存下来了。
- 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。
- 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。
- Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
- The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。
- The dumping of foreign cotton blocked outlets for locally grown cotton. 外国棉花的倾销阻滞了当地生产的棉花的销路。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- They must find outlets for their products. 他们必须为自己的产品寻找出路。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
- 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。
- I can't afford the vacation,for it would eat up my savings.我度不起假,那样会把我的积蓄用光的。
- By this time he had used up all his savings.到这时,他的存款已全部用完。
- What can you contribute to the position of a market analyst?你有什么技能可有助于市场分析员的职务?
- The analyst is required to interpolate values between standards.分析人员需要在这些标准中插入一些值。
- 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》
- If it comes to the crunch they'll support us.关键时刻他们是会支持我们的。
- People who crunch nuts at the movies can be very annoying.看电影时嘎吱作声地嚼干果的人会使人十分讨厌。
- A policeman and then a paramedic tried to resuscitate her.一名警察和一位护理人员先后试图救活她。
- As instructed by Rinpoche,we got the doctors to resuscitate him.遵照仁波切的指示,我们找来医生帮他进行急救。
- The moribund Post Office Advisory Board was replaced.这个不起作用的邮局顾问委员会已被替换。
- Imperialism is monopolistic,parasitic and moribund capitalism.帝国主义是垄断的、寄生的、垂死的资本主义。
- The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
- This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。
- Shall we first sign a barter trade agreement stipulating the general terms and conditions? 我们先签一个易货贸易协议,规定一般性条款,行吗? 来自互联网
- The other firm are stipulating for and early exchange of information regarding the contract. 作为协议条件,另一家公司坚持要求早日交换有关合同的信息。 来自互联网
- The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers.这篇报道应该对其他潜在的购买者起到警示作用。
- They have all these great activities for prospective freshmen.这会举办各种各样的活动来招待未来的新人。