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A few headlines from the financial world seem to offer a mixed view on how the U.S. economy's doing. First, a new report says U.S. companies cut just over 200,000 jobs in October. Obviously, job cuts: not good news. But this is the seventh month in a row when the number of cuts was lower than the previous month.

However, the number of Americans filing personal bankruptcies went up about nine percent last month. About a third of those were Chapter 13 bankruptcies. That's when the individual is put on a five-year repayment plan.

And finally, the Federal Reserve, the country's central bank, decided not to change a key interest rate which affects things like credit cards and home loans. In the past, the Fed had lowered the rate to try to boost the economy. So, the decision to leave it where it is might indicate things are getting better.

核心词组词汇
mixed:having both good and bad qualities or feelings 混合的;混杂的
The weather has been very mixed recently.
最近天气总是阴晴不定.
I still have mixed feelings about going to Brazil(= I am not sure what to think).
去不去巴西，我仍然拿不定主意.
The play was given a mixed reception by the critics(= some liked it, some did not).
批评家们对这出戏的评价毁誉参半.

in a row
1.if sth happens several times in a row, it happens in exactly the same way each time, and nothing different happens in the time between 连续几次地
This is her third win in a row.
这是她连续获得的第三次胜利.
2.if sth happens for several days, etc.in a row, it happens on each of those days 接连几天(等)地
Inflation has fallen for the third month in a row.
通货膨胀率一连三个月不断下降.

go up:if the price of sth, the temperature, etc.goes up, it becomes higher (价格、温度等)上涨,上升
The price of cigarettes is going up.
香烟价格在上涨.
Cigarettes are going up in price.
香烟在涨价.