VOA标准英语2014--第二季度美国经济反弹速度快于预期

 

US Economy Rebounds² Faster Than Expected in Second Quarter 第二季度美国经济反弹速度快于预期

The Commerce Department says the U.S. economy expanded at its fastest pace in more than two years - growing at an annualized rate of 4.6 percent from April through June.  That’s a positive sign for the rest of the year, after a disastrous³ first quarter saw the country’s domestic output shrink by more than two percent. 

Some economists⁴ say it’s a sure sign the U.S. economy is on the mend, but others say it’s too soon to celebrate.

The U.S. economy is bouncing back following a severe winter that shut down hundreds of businesses and kept American consumers at home.  But don’t uncork the champagne⁵ just yet, says Bankrate.com senior financial analyst⁶ Greg McBride.

“It’s certainly nice to see a rebound¹ after the disastrous first quarter that we had," he said.  "But as I like to say - one in a row is not a streak⁷.”

Much will depend on whether the trend continues in the third and fourth quarters of 2014.

Even if it does - the decline in the first three months of the year means the gross domestic product - the broadest measure of the nation’s economic output - is unlikely to exceed last year’s pace of 2.2 percent.  

But if Wall Street had any doubts about the recovery - they’re not showing it. 

The new growth figures pushed stock prices higher - just as a new survey showed consumer confidence at its highest level in more than a year.   

“I think it does suggest the U.S. economy is moving forward, it’s moving forward at a moderate pace, and the condition of U.S. businesses is such that they’re increasing their investment spending,” said David Stockton, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Increased business spending and higher export rates bode⁸ well for the U.S. job market.  Despite the modest job growth in the past year, wages have remained mostly stagnant⁹. 

But McBride believes that’s changing.

"The leading category for job growth here in 2014 is professional and business services, so these tend to be higher paying jobs," he said.  "The job market actually has a little bit of momentum¹⁰ going for it -  that’s the good news - and has been far more consistent than what we’ve seen in terms of economic growth."

Economists expect to have a clearer picture of employment trends October 3.  That's when the U.S. Labor¹¹ Department releases its much anticipated monthly job numbers.

1 rebound   

v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回

参考例句：

• The vibrations accompanying the rebound are the earth quake.伴随这种回弹的振动就是地震。
• Our evil example will rebound upon ourselves.我们的坏榜样会回到我们自己头上的。

2 rebounds   

反弹球( rebound的名词复数 )； 回弹球； 抢断篮板球； 复兴

参考例句：

• V is the velocity after the gas particle rebounds from the wall. V是粒子从壁上弹开后的速度。
• In the former case, the first body rebounds with practically its original velocity. 在前一种情况下，第一个物体实际上以原来的速度弹回。

3 disastrous   

adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的

参考例句：

• The heavy rainstorm caused a disastrous flood.暴雨成灾。
• Her investment had disastrous consequences.She lost everything she owned.她的投资结果很惨，血本无归。

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 champagne   

n.香槟酒；微黄色

参考例句：

• There were two glasses of champagne on the tray.托盘里有两杯香槟酒。
• They sat there swilling champagne.他们坐在那里大喝香槟酒。

6 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。

7 streak   

n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动

参考例句：

• The Indians used to streak their faces with paint.印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
• Why did you streak the tree?你为什么在树上刻条纹？

8 bode   

v.预示

参考例句：

• These figures do not bode well for the company's future.这些数字显示出公司的前景不妙。
• His careful habits bode well for his future.他那认真的习惯预示著他会有好的前途。

9 stagnant   

adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的

参考例句：

• Due to low investment,industrial output has remained stagnant.由于投资少，工业生产一直停滞不前。
• Their national economy is stagnant.他们的国家经济停滞不前。

10 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

11 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。