VOA标准英语2010年-US Consumer Spending Up Slightly Amid

The U.S. Commerce Department says consumer spending rose more than expected in January, up half a percent.  Analysts¹ say it's another indication that the U.S. economy is on track to climb out of the worst recession since the 1930s. But while consumer spending drives about 70 percent of the U.S. economy, economists³ say other factors are making the recovery more difficult.

The U.S. economy grew at a faster than expected rate at the end of 2009, up nearly six percent in the last three months of the year.  But a little more than two months into 2010, some analysts say the U.S. recovery is losing steam.

Although consumer spending improved slightly in January, economist² Diane Swonk says housing sales remained anemic. "The housing market has recovered from the exceedingly low levels that we saw hit during the worst of the recession.  That said, we're still not going anywhere fast," she said.

Despite an $8,000 tax incentive⁴ for first time home buyers, sales of existing homes have declined two months in a row. 

Some say record snowfalls may have kept homebuyers away. 

But with prices still falling, realtors predict an improvement for March and April. "You're not going to get more affordable⁵ than it is right now, with the combination of interest rates and the home prices.  It's a really good time," said Gary Keller of Keller Williams Realty.

Although manufacturing numbers, which reflect demand, expanded again in February, some economists say recovery will not be as rapid as in previous downturns. "I think consumer spending numbers are reflective of the job numbers, which continue to be weak," said John Silvia, chief economist at Wells Fargo bank.

The pace of job losses has declined dramatically in the last year, but nearly 15 million Americans are still out of work. 
Silvia expects the situation to improve soon. "I would suspect that the jobs numbers would turn positive by the second quarter of this year, so probably another two or three months out we'll get some positive jobs numbers," he said.

Americans should get a better idea of where the economy is headed on Friday, when the Labor⁶ Department releases its closely-watched monthly jobs report.

 

1 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。

2 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

3 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》

4 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

5 affordable   

adj.支付得起的，不太昂贵的

参考例句：

• The rent for the four-roomed house is affordable.四居室房屋的房租付得起。
• There are few affordable apartments in big cities.在大城市中没有几所公寓是便宜的。

6 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。