VOA常速英语2013--加州成为美国经济复苏亮点（在线收听）

California a Bright Spot in US Economic Recovery 加州成为美国经济复苏亮点

LOS ANGELES — The U.S. economy is slowly improving from the recession of 2008-2009.  Industries like construction are doing well, but unemployment remains stubbornly high throughout the United States.  California is a bright spot, growing at a rate above the national average, but as in other states, the recovery is uneven.

Realtor Rosalie Andersen adjusts the "for sale" sign in front of a white stucco home in a quiet neighborhood near Los Angeles.  She hopes the house will sell for more than a million dollars, and says the real estate market is on an upswing.

房地产经纪人罗莎莉·安德森希望房子能卖出超过一百万美元,并且表示房地产市场在上升之中。

“It's kind of puzzling.  We talk in the office, and we're just wondering, where are these people getting all this cash from?  But I think what a lot of people are doing is that they're finally realizing that your best investment for money is a home," said Andersen.

“这有点令人费解。我们在办公室里有过谈论,只是想知道,这些人的全部现金从哪而来?但是我想很多人做的是他们最终意识到你的最佳资金投资是一套房子,”安德森说道。

California grew last year at 3.5 percent, a full percentage point above the national average.  

加州去年增长了3.5%,高于全国平均水平。

But the reality on the ground varies from place to place.  

但现实是因地而异。

The ports, one of the drivers of the local economy, are busier, says economist Robert Kleinhenz of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation.

其中地方经济一个来源的港口会更为繁忙,洛杉矶郡经济发展公司经济学家罗伯特·克莱恩兹说道。

“We're still well below the pre-recession peak levels of port activity that we had seen in 2007," he said. "We've seen some slight gains with each passing year, but there still is quite a ways to go."

“我们的港口活动仍然远低于危机前2007年的峰值水平,”他说道。“虽然我们每过一年都有轻微涨幅,但仍然有相当长的发展之路。"

In downtown Los Angeles, the Chinese immigrant owner of a small business that sells T-shirts and slippers says he is doing well.  Nearby, Henry Wong sells low-cost decorations and fabrics imported China.  When sales are slow, he works with fewer employees.

在洛杉矶市中心, 这位中国移民表示自己的一家销售T恤和拖鞋的小型企业生意很不错。附近,亨利·王销售进口中国的低成本的装饰和面料。当销售呈现颓势,他就与更少的员工一起工作。

“It's easier for me because the overhead is low.  And I work by myself too.  Sometimes, in the case that the economy is no good, we work more," said Wong.

“对我来说很简单,因为开销低。而且我自己也工作。有时,在经济不好的情况下,我们会加倍努力工作,”王说道。

Today, he's doing well.  A half dozen employees are busy in his retail store, and more are at work in his warehouse.

现今他的生意兴隆。6名员工正在他的零售商店里忙碌,而更多人则在他的仓库里工作。

High-tech companies are helping to drive the U.S. recovery, but even in Silicon Valley, California's high-tech center, the picture is mixed.  Cisco, despite good sales, is cutting 4,000 jobs to adapt to a changing market.

高科技公司正在帮助推动美国经济复苏,但即使是加州硅谷的高科技中心,情况也不尽相同。思科尽管销售良好,但正在削减4000个工作岗位以适应不断变化的市场。

The leisure and hospitality sector is hiring, and banking and professional services are also doing well.  California's $44 billion farming industry helps feed the nation and is growing.  The state's unemployment rate is 8.7 percent, down from over 12 percent three years ago.  The jobless rate across the United States is 7.4 percent, and those numbers are also improving.

休闲及酒店行业正在进行招聘,而银行和专业服务势头也十分良好。加州的440亿美元农业产业帮助养活全国而且也在增长。这个州的失业率为8.7%,低于三年前的12%。而美国的失业率呈现7.4%,这些数字也在提高。

They are still not where they should be, says economist Robert Kleinhenz.

但它们仍然没有处于应有的位置,经济学家罗伯特·克莱恩兹说道。

“The unemployment rate has been coming down. GDP has been growing.  The problem is, they continue to tell us that the economy is growing at a slower pace than we would really like to see," he said.

“失业率一直下降。国内生产总值一直增长。然而问题是他们继续告诉我们经济增长速度要慢于我们真正想看到的,”他说道。

Disappointing U.S. sales figures released this month by Wal-Mart, the nation's top retailer, show the economy still has a way way to go, even in states like California. 

本月由美国顶级零售商沃尔玛公布的数字令人对美国的销售倍感失望,显示即使在像加州这样的州经济仍需漫长发展之路。