US Treasury Sec, Greenspan Paint Positive Picture of US Econ

US Treasury¹ Sec, Greenspan Paint Positive Picture of US Economy

Barry Wood

Treasury Secretary John Snow says the U.S. economy is on a strong growth path.

Mr. Snow told a Washington gathering² that an expanding economy will create a lot of new jobs. But he did not repeat his earlier assertion that more than two million jobs will be created this year. The treasury secretary spoke³ at a meeting of personal finance counselors⁵.

"We're moving on a good path. We're on a strong path. Growth in the third quarter was an astonishing 8.2 percent. In the fourth quarter it was four percent. And the forecast for the year 2004, this year, the private sector⁶ forecasts all call for growth of from four to five percent, really strong, strong growth rates."

At the same meeting, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan said American consumers seem to be in good shape. He said they are able to carry more short-term debt, in large part because they have been cushioned by rising home prices. The lowest interest rates in 40 years have prompted millions of Americans to refinance their 15- or 30-year home loans, something that has typically reduced monthly mortgage payments.

Mr. Greenspan did acknowledge that personal bankruptcies⁷ have risen to high levels. But the evidence, he said, suggests that most personal bankruptcies resulted from the economic slowdown that ended over two years ago.

 

注释：

Treasury Secretary  财政部长

John Snow  约翰•斯诺，美国财政部长。

counselor⁴ [5kaunsElE] n. 顾问

forecast [5fC:kB:st] n&vt. 预测，预报

Federal Reserve Board （美国）联邦储备金监察小组

in good shape  处于良好状态

cushion [5kuFEn] v. 缓和，减轻

prompt [prCmpt] v. 鼓动，促使

refinance [5rifi5nAns] vt. 再为……筹钱，再供……资金

mortgage [5mC:^idV] n. 抵押

slowdown [slEudaun] n. 减速

1 treasury   

n.宝库；国库，金库；文库

参考例句：

• The Treasury was opposed in principle to the proposals.财政部原则上反对这些提案。
• This book is a treasury of useful information.这本书是有价值的信息宝库。

2 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 counselor   

n.顾问，法律顾问

参考例句：

• The counselor gave us some disinterested advice.顾问给了我们一些无私的忠告。
• Chinese commercial counselor's office in foreign countries.中国驻国外商务参赞处。

5 counselors   

n.顾问( counselor的名词复数 )；律师；（使馆等的）参赞；（协助学生解决问题的）指导老师

参考例句：

• Counselors began an inquiry into industrial needs. 顾问们开始调查工业方面的需要。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• We have experienced counselors available day and night. ) 这里有经验的法律顾问全天候值班。） 来自超越目标英语 第4册

6 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

7 bankruptcies   

n.破产( bankruptcy的名词复数 )；倒闭；彻底失败；（名誉等的）完全丧失

参考例句：

• It's a matter of record that there were ten bankruptcies in the town last year. 去年这个城市有十家破产是事实。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Business bankruptcies rose 50 percent over the previous year. 破产企业的数量比前一年增加５０％。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件