VOA标准英语2008年-New Report Says US Inflation Pressures Appear t

By Mil Arcega
Washington
15 May 2008
 

The U.S. Labor¹ Department says overall prices paid by consumers rose only slightly in April.  Wednesday's report shows energy costs appear to be stabilizing² after posting sharp gains earlier this year.  Although food prices continue to rise, some economists³ say the report should ease fears of runaway⁴ inflation.  However, for some lower income Americans, it may already be too late. VOA's Mil Arcega reports.

Inflation pressures appear to be easing a bit in the U.S., despite the largest increase in food prices in 18 years.  A (U.S.) Labor Department report shows the consumer price index, a measure of the average price changes for goods and services, rose only two-tenths of a percent in April.  In March, it rose three tenths of a percent.

But the numbers mean little to some Americans.  Rising prices for basic items have already had a devastating⁵ impact on some families. 

Single mother, Julie Tkachuck, says after paying for gas and groceries, she had no money left to pay for electricity.

 "There's something wrong with this picture," she says.  "I work hard.  I come home; I take care of my kids.  Why am I in this situation."

Despite the hardship for some, the lower than expected price index helped ease financial market concerns, pushing Wall Street slightly higher on Wednesday.

Taking out volatile⁶ food and energy costs, the Labor Department says "core" CPI rose by just one-tenth of one percent last month. 

Consumer assistance groups say the irony⁷ is that the number of people unable to pay their energy bills is now the highest it has been in 16 years.

Mark Wolfe is executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.

"Energy is becoming unaffordable to millions of low-income families," he says.  "We don't have a good solution in place to help them."

Although gasoline prices surged higher last month, the price index reflected a two percent drop after seasonal⁸ adjustments are factored in.  That may be little comfort to motorists now paying record prices at the pump.

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 stabilizing   

n.稳定化处理[退火]v.（使）稳定， （使）稳固( stabilize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The disulfide bridges might then be viewed primarily as stabilizing components. 二硫桥可以被看作是初级的稳定因素。 来自辞典例句
• These stabilizing design changes are usually not desirable for steady-state operation. 这些增加稳定性的设计改变通常不太符合稳态工作的要求。 来自辞典例句

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 runaway   

n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的

参考例句：

• The police have not found the runaway to date.警察迄今没抓到逃犯。
• He was praised for bringing up the runaway horse.他勒住了脱缰之马受到了表扬。

5 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

6 volatile   

adj.反复无常的，挥发性的，稍纵即逝的，脾气火爆的；n.挥发性物质

参考例句：

• With the markets being so volatile,investments are at great risk.由于市场那么变化不定，投资冒着很大的风险。
• His character was weak and volatile.他这个人意志薄弱，喜怒无常。

7 irony   

n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄

参考例句：

• She said to him with slight irony.她略带嘲讽地对他说。
• In her voice we could sense a certain tinge of irony.从她的声音里我们可以感到某种讥讽的意味。

8 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。