US Consumer Spending Increases

 　　Consumer spending increased slightly in the United States last month, along with confidence in the economy.

　　A government Commerce¹ Department report says spending increased by six-tenths of a percent in September, even though incomes increased less than projected.

　　Consumer spending drives much of the economic activity in the United States, and Friday's figures followed a report Thursday that said the U.S. economy was growing at a 2.5 percent annual rate.

　　The spending and growth figures were supported by a private report showing that consumer confidence in the economy was slightly higher in September, increasing hope that the U.S. economy can avoid another recession² and continue a slow recovery³.

1 commerce   

n.商业，贸易；社交

参考例句：

• Commerce binds the two countries together.贸易把这两国结合在一起。
• They drew up plans aimed at expanding commerce.他们拟定了发展商业的计划。

2 recession   

n.（工商业的）衷退（期），萧条（期）

参考例句：

• Manufacturing fell sharply under the impact of the recession.受到经济萧条的影响，制造业急剧衰退。
• A rise in interest rates plunged Britain deeper into recession.利率的提高导致英国经济更加萧条。

3 recovery   

n.恢复，痊愈；追回，寻回，收复

参考例句：

• The doctors said that his recovery was a miracle. 医生们说他的复原是件奇事。
• The quick recovery was truly in response to medication.这次迅速康复确实是对药物治疗的反应。