UN: Inflation Fears Continue in Asia

     A United Nations economic survey for Asia Pacific says the region is now a leading driver of global economic growth, continuing a dramatic recovery from last year.  U.N. economists² warn that rising oil and food prices especially threaten millions of the region's poor.

    U.N. economists say that although Asia continues to experience robust³ regional growth, there are still fears of rising inflation through food and fuel prices.

    The annual survey released Thursday by the U.N.'s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) forecasts growth at more than seven percent for major developing economies across the region. Economists say India and Indonesia's booming economies lead Asia, buoyed⁴ by their "robust consumption and investment".

    China's economy is forecast to grow by more than nine percent due to government efforts to shift the economy to greater domestic consumption.

    UNESCAP chief economist¹, Nagesh Kumar says foreign speculators drawn⁵ to Asia's high growth rates are contributing to higher inflation. The foreign inflows have led to excessive investment in areas such as property leading to vulnerable asset bubbles.

    Food, fuel crisisNagesh says the greatest fear is a return of a similar food and fuel crisis that occurred in 2008. The report says food price have risen by up to 35 per cent across several countries.

    "The key downside ... the major challenge that the region is facing is arising from the inflationary(通货膨胀的) pressures which are largely driven by the dramatic rise of food and oil prices since August 2010," said Nagesh. "We find that if oil prices continue to rise it could affect the growth outlook by one percent in the region."The survey warns that the high food and fuel prices could mean that 42 million additional people across Asia and the Pacific remain in poverty, on top of the 19 million affected⁶ in 2010.

    Across the region there are more than 950 million people living on less than $1.25 a day. The report says expanding consumption through higher wages; better employment opportunities and expanding social protection programs are needed to boost domestic growth.

    JapanThe report also evaluates Japan's economy following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami⁷.

    UNESCAP economists says while Japan's economy faces great uncertainty⁸, the quake's economic toll⁹ be short term with some boost from reconstruction¹⁰ efforts later.

    U.N. economists also called on the world's major economies to help the situation in Asia, by acting¹¹ decisively to moderate volatile¹² oil and food prices. Economists recommended regulating commodity markets to reduce speculation¹³ and to "discipline" industries that convert food into biofuels.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• 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。

2 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• 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》

3 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• 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。

4 buoyed   

v.使浮起( buoy的过去式和过去分词 )；支持；为…设浮标；振奋…的精神

参考例句：

• Buoyed by their win yesterday the team feel confident of further success. 在昨天胜利的鼓舞下，该队有信心再次获胜。
• His encouragement buoyed her up during that difficult period. 他的鼓励使她在那段困难时期恢复了乐观的情绪。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 drawn   

v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的

参考例句：

• All the characters in the story are drawn from life.故事中的所有人物都取材于生活。
• Her gaze was drawn irresistibly to the scene outside.她的目光禁不住被外面的风景所吸引。

6 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

7 tsunami   

n.海啸

参考例句：

• Powerful quake sparks tsunami warning in Japan.大地震触发了日本的海啸预警。
• Coastlines all around the Indian Ocean inundated by a huge tsunami.大海啸把印度洋沿岸地区都淹没了。

8 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

9 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

10 reconstruction   

n.重建，再现，复原

参考例句：

• The country faces a huge task of national reconstruction following the war.战后，该国面临着重建家园的艰巨任务。
• In the period of reconstruction,technique decides everything.在重建时期，技术决定一切。

11 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

12 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• 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。

13 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。