2007年VOA标准英语-Wal-Mart Reports Worst Sales Figures in Nearly

By Mil Arcega
Washington
14 May 2007
 

April sales figures show a disappointing month for Wal-Mart.  The world's largest retailer² reported a big drop in sales last month -- its worst decline in nearly 30 years.  As VOA's Mil Arcega reports, Wal-Mart is not alone.

A three and a half percent drop in sales does not seem like much.  But for a company that sells more than $300 billion worth of goods every year, analysts⁴ say it is significant. 

Alan Murray, the managing editor of the Wall Street Journal, says the drop represents Wal-Mart's biggest decline since 1979. "There are a number of things going on.  Part of it is early Easter, so some of those sales got moved into March.  Part of it is bad weather."

But it may also signal a trend.  Across the board, retailers⁵ from Target to JC Penny and the Gap, reported weaker sales in April.  Analysts say the decline suggests high gasoline prices and the slowing U.S. housing market are finally catching⁶ up with consumers.  Murray says there may be other factors at play.

"Wal-Mart is not doing what it used to do very well.  It made an attempt last year to sell clothes to high scale retailers.  That didn't work.  It had to back off.  It's remodeling its stores.  That's not working very well," says Murray.

To bring customers back, some say Wal-Mart needs to go back to its marketing⁷ basics.  Retail¹ analyst³ Dana Telsey says that means low priced goods in a friendly retail environment. "I think Wal-Mart is working to enhance its image.  It could always be better.  Going back to its roots is a way, that hopefully, customers will become familiar with it again."

Wal-Mart is one of the biggest economic indicators⁸ in the retail industry.  As the world's largest profit making enterprise, Wal-Mart's yearly revenues represents about 2.5 percent of total economic activity in the U.S. 

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 retailer   

n.零售商(人)

参考例句：

• What are the retailer requirements?零售商会有哪些要求呢？
• The retailer has assembled a team in Shanghai to examine the question.这家零售商在上海组建了一支团队研究这个问题。

3 analyst   

n.分析家，化验员；心理分析学家

参考例句：

• 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。

4 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

5 retailers   

零售商，零售店( retailer的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• 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。

6 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

7 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。

8 indicators   

（仪器上显示温度、压力、耗油量等的）指针( indicator的名词复数 )； 指示物； （车辆上的）转弯指示灯； 指示信号

参考例句：

• The economic indicators are better than expected. 经济指标比预期的好。
• It is still difficult to develop indicators for many concepts used in social science. 为社会科学领域的许多概念确立一个指标仍然很难。