US Consumer Spending Advanced in March

 　　U.S. retail¹ spending increased at a solid pace in March, an indication that consumer confidence is growing even as gasoline prices remain high.

　　Consumer spending drives about 70 percent of the U.S. economy, the world's largest. The government said Monday that retail sales advanced 0.8 percent last month, faster than economists² had projected, but slightly less than the 1 percent gain in February.

　　The U.S. said its consumers spent more on home improvements, cars, electronics, furniture and clothing, as well as paying more for gasoline. Gas prices in the U.S. have risen to more than $1 a liter ($3.90 a gallon), which is less than in many other countries, but high by U.S. standards.

　　The increased consumer spending could signal that the American economy is growing at a faster pace than earlier predictions. It grew 3 percent in the last quarter of 2011. Some economists had projected slower growth in the January-to-March period this year. But some now think the early 2012 pace may come close to matching the end-of-year growth last year.

1 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• 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。

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》