福克斯新闻 经济学家相信万圣节糖果销量将上涨

This is no trick: According to financial services firm IHS, the economy could be in for a real treat this year thanks to an expected 5% boost in Halloween spending.

这并不是什么小把戏：根据金融服务公司IHS的说法，预期万圣节支出将增加5%，今年的经济将会受益。

That’s because a year of low gas prices and better employment opportunities have helped customers feel more confident about spending their hard-earned cash. Plus, a slight dip in sugar prices have helped the cost of candy slide nearly half a percentage point.

这是因为一年的低油价和更好的就业机会让顾客对消费更有信心。此外，糖价的轻微下跌也使糖果成本下滑了近0.5个百分点。

IHS economist¹ Chris Christopher anticipates Halloween candy sales will reach their highest level in five years as households look to spend about $30 on sweets for trick-or-treaters:

IHS经济学家Chris Christopher预期万圣节糖果销量将达到五年来最高水平，因为许多家庭打算花费30美元购买糖果招待捣蛋鬼们。

(Christopher) “You can use this as an indicator² that the holiday sales this season should be pretty good. The only little hiccup³ is that I think consumers will be a little more focused on holiday spending a little bit after the election.”

“你可以把这一点作为万圣节销量会非常可观的指示物。唯一的一点问题是，我认为只有选举过后，消费者才会把更多精力集中在节日消费上。”

Christopher said while shoppers were a bit spooked by election-year politics this month, with retail⁴ discounts on the horizon for the holiday-shopping season, the fourth quarter is looking a lot less goulish.

Christopher表示，尽管今年消费者会因为选举政治感到有点紧张，然而，由于节日购物促销季即将到来，第四季度的经济可能不会那么萧条。

Victoria Craig, FOX News.

Victoria Craig，福克斯新闻。

1 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。

2 indicator   

n.指标；指示物，指示者；指示器

参考例句：

• Gold prices are often seen as an indicator of inflation.黃金价格常常被看作是通货膨胀的指标。
• His left-hand indicator is flashing.他左手边的转向灯正在闪亮。

3 hiccup   

n.打嗝

参考例句：

• When you have to hiccup,drink a glass of cold water.当你不得不打嗝时，喝一杯冷水就好了。
• How long did he hiccup?他打嗝打了多久？

4 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。