美央行行长表示就业市场正在改善

Central Bank Chief Says Job Market Is Improving 美央行行长表示就业市场正在改善

The head of the United States central bank says she expects the U.S. job market to continue to improve.

Janet Yellen says the inflation rate should rise close to a yearly rate of 2 percent. That inflation rate would keep prices stable and support the economy, says the central bank, or Federal Reserve System.

Too much inflation and prices rise too high, too fast. Not enough inflation and prices and growth remain flat or decline. Currently, inflation is well below one percent.

Many economists¹ interpret Yellen’s comments as a signal that the Federal Reserve might raise the key interest rate on December 16. The Federal Reserve has considered increasing important interest rates for a long time. But it has been cautious about making rate changes, fearing that the economy would react badly.

In a speech to the Economic Club of Washington on Wednesday, Federal Reserve Chairperson Yellen said she expects the effects of a strong U.S. dollar and faltering² foreign markets to decrease over time. She cautioned that bad economic reports could still delay any rate increase. 

The Bureau of Labor³ Statistics reported Friday that the economy gained 211,000 jobs in November. Unemployment remained at five percent, its lowest level in seven years.

The Federal Reserve cut an important interest rate to almost zero during the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008. The idea was to make it less costly⁴ for businesses to borrow the money needed for new equipment. Less costly loans help to create jobs, and cut unemployment. 

Since those economic stimulus⁵ efforts, unemployment has fallen from 10 percent to 5 percent. A new report from Georgetown University says under-employment, lacking a job that pays enough, has also been cut sharply, especially for people with college degrees. 

Some economic studies published Wednesday may increase the likelihood of a rate increase. ADP is a company that processes 24 million paychecks for companies across the United States. It says employment rose by 217,000 in November. 

A separate opinion survey of U.S. workers by the company Gallup shows many more companies say they are hiring than are worrying about layoffs⁶. 

CoreLogic is a company that tracks the housing industry. It says its newest studies show a decrease in home sales related to foreclosure or other kinds of distress⁷. 

Foreclosures take place when banks reclaim⁸ homes because their owners cannot pay their loans. Foreclosures and other problems increased sharply during the financial crisis of 2007 and 2008.  A decline in "distressed⁹" home sales shows an improving housing industry.

Words in This Story

stable – adj. in a good state or condition that is not easily changed or likely to change

cautious – adj. careful about avoiding danger or risk

faltering – adj. to weaken or fail

stimulus – n. something that causes something else to happen, a policy of supporting economic activity

1 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》

2 faltering   

犹豫的，支吾的，蹒跚的

参考例句：

• The economy shows no signs of faltering. 经济没有衰退的迹象。
• I canfeel my legs faltering. 我感到我的腿在颤抖。

3 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。

4 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

5 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。

6 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

7 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。

8 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

9 distressed   

痛苦的

参考例句：

• He was too distressed and confused to answer their questions. 他非常苦恼而困惑，无法回答他们的问题。
• The news of his death distressed us greatly. 他逝世的消息使我们极为悲痛。