澳洲新闻 (ABC新闻快递) 2010-12-04

 US unemployment rate: The US unemployment rate has surged to a seven-month high in a blow to hopes for a recovery in the jobs market. The Labor¹ Department says it rose to 9.8 per cent last month. Only 39,000 jobs were created, which is far below analysts²' expectations. And analysts are concerned that levels of high unemployment in the US is (are) undermining economic recovery. 

 

It's been reported that Spain's government is considering raising taxes on tobacco as it tries to tackle its high budget deficit³. A Spanish newspaper says it would enable the government to raise an extra $1.3 billion a year. Earlier this week, Spain announced plans to sell off stakes in the country's airport authority and national lottery⁴ to try to improve the country's finances. 

 

Meanwhile, new figures show eurozone retail⁵ sales returned to growth in October following two months of falls. They were up by 0.5 of a per cent from the previous month and 1.8 per cent higher than a year ago. 

 

And to the market numbers now: US stocks closed the week down slightly after the disappointing unemployment figures. Wall Street lost 1.1 per cent. European markets also slumped⁶. London's FT100 shed almost 0.4 of a percent. The DAX also slipped slightly. The Australian share market finished the week up. And checking the currencies, the Australian dollar is about 99 US cents.

1 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。

2 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。

3 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

4 lottery   

n.抽彩；碰运气的事，难于算计的事

参考例句：

• He won no less than ￡5000 in the lottery.他居然中了5000英镑的奖券。
• They thought themselves lucky in the lottery of life.他们认为自己是变幻莫测的人生中的幸运者。

5 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。

6 slumped   

大幅度下降，暴跌( slump的过去式和过去分词 )； 沉重或突然地落下[倒下]

参考例句：

• Sales have slumped this year. 今年销售量锐减。
• The driver was slumped exhausted over the wheel. 司机伏在方向盘上，疲惫得睡着了。