VOA标准英语2008年-Bush: Stimulus Will Help Economy

By Scott Stearns
White House
02 May 2008

The U.S. economy lost 20,000 jobs in April as higher food and fuel costs continue to slow economic growth. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, U.S. President George Bush says tax refunds¹ and business incentives² should help improve the economy by July.

President Bush delivers remarks on the economy at World Wide Technology Inc. in Maryland Heights, Missouri, 2 May 2008

It was the fourth consecutive³ monthly decline for American workers, bringing the total number of jobs lost so far this year to more than 250,000. But April's drop was smaller than some economists⁴ projected, and the unemployment rate fell slightly to five percent.

Speaking to workers in the Midwest state of Missouri, President Bush said the economy is not as robust⁵ as he would like, but he is certain it will improve.

"I know it is tough times. And I know you are having to pay more at the fuel pump then you want, but this economy is going to come on. I'm confident that it will," he said.

The president says a temporary economic stimulus⁶ package of tax rebates⁷ and business incentives should start helping⁸ turn the economy around by the start of the third financial quarter in July.

The first of those tax rebates to more than 130 million households went out this week. The rest will follow throughout May.

There was April job growth in education and health care, but not enough to make up for sharp losses in construction and manufacturing.

The U.S. automotive industry says vehicle sales are at their slowest in ten years. The world's largest automaker, General Motors, says it is reducing production of large pickup⁹ trucks and sport-utility vehicles at four plants in the United States and Canada because of poor sales.

Higher gasoline and food prices are depressing U.S. retail¹⁰ sales. Home prices nationwide are down ten percent. Consumer confidence is at a five-year low.

Much of the current slowdown follows the crisis that hit the housing market earlier this year. Many new homebuyers got low introductory interest rates, but were unable to meet their mortgage payments when those rates went up, leading to record foreclosures.

Public opinion polls say the economy has replaced the war in Iraq as the single biggest issue on the minds of voters ahead of November's presidential election.  An NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll this past week says 73 percent of Americans believe the nation is heading in the wrong direction.

1 refunds   

n.归还，偿还额，退款( refund的名词复数 )v.归还，退还( refund的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Tomorrow he would return them to the store and claim refunds. 明天他要把它们退还给商店并要求退款。 来自辞典例句
• The new method means that taxpayers get refunds much faster. 这种新办法意味着纳税人可以较快地领到退还款。 来自辞典例句

2 incentives   

激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机

参考例句：

• tax incentives to encourage savings 鼓励储蓄的税收措施
• Furthermore, subsidies provide incentives only for investments in equipment. 更有甚者，提供津贴仅是为鼓励增添设备的投资。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

3 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

4 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》

5 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。

6 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。

7 rebates   

n.退还款( rebate的名词复数 )；回扣；返还（退还的部份货价）；折扣

参考例句：

• The VAT system offers advantages, such as rebates on exports. 增值税有其优点，如对出口商品实行回扣。 来自辞典例句
• In more recent years rate rebates have been introduced for households. 近年地方税的减免已适用于家庭。 来自辞典例句

8 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

9 pickup   

n.拾起，获得

参考例句：

• I would love to trade this car for a pickup truck.我愿意用这辆汽车换一辆小型轻便卡车。||The luck guy is a choice pickup for the girls.那位幸运的男孩是女孩子们想勾搭上的人。

10 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。