美国有线新闻 CNN 美国首次申请失业救济人数328.3万人 创历史新高

The U.S. Department of Labor¹ says last week initial jobless claims spiked² to 3.28 million. Here's what that means. According to Investopedia, this is the number of people who asked the government for unemployment benefits because they've lost their jobs in layoffs³ or business cutbacks. If they meet the requirements for getting help, the government will pay part of their income for a limited amount of time. And initial jobless claims counts those who request these benefits for the first time. The Labor Department's been keeping track of this statistic⁴ since 1967.

It's a major indication of how the U.S. economy is doing. And this is the first time that initial jobless claims have ever increased by 3.28 million.

The previous record in 1982 was less than 700,000. So this reflects how quickly the coronavirus pandemic has caused businesses to temporarily shutdown in most American industries. The silver lining⁵ is the word temporarily. Yes, economists⁶ are expecting millions of job losses in the weeks ahead. But they also expect the economy to get better later this year as the spread of COVID-19 slows down.

And U.S. Treasury⁷ Secretary Steven Mnuchin says the surge in unemployment claims was recorded before Congress passed an economic stimulus⁸ bill which he said would help. Workers on the front lines of this pandemic are being hailed as heroes. We told you how people in several countries are applauding healthcare providers. Now some grocery store employees are being recognized for their risks and hard work.

1 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• 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。

2 spiked   

adj.有穗的；成锥形的；有尖顶的

参考例句：

• The editor spiked the story. 编辑删去了这篇报道。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• They wondered whether their drinks had been spiked. 他们有些疑惑自己的饮料里是否被偷偷搀了烈性酒。 来自辞典例句

3 layoffs   

临时解雇( layoff的名词复数 )； 停工，停止活动

参考例句：

• Textile companies announced 2000 fresh layoffs last week. 各纺织公司上周宣布再次裁员两千人。
• Stock prices broke when the firm suddenly announced layoffs. 当公司突然宣布裁员时，股票价格便大跌

4 statistic   

n.统计量；adj.统计的，统计学的

参考例句：

• Official statistics show real wages declining by 24%.官方统计数字表明实际工资下降了24%。
• There are no reliable statistics for the number of deaths in the battle.关于阵亡人数没有可靠的统计数字。

5 lining   

n.衬里，衬料

参考例句：

• The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
• Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

6 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》

7 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• 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。

8 stimulus   

n.刺激，刺激物，促进因素，引起兴奋的事物

参考例句：

• Regard each failure as a stimulus to further efforts.把每次失利看成对进一步努力的激励。
• Light is a stimulus to growth in plants.光是促进植物生长的一个因素。