(单词翻译:单击)
听力文本
From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report.
The Commerce Department says the U.S. economy expanded at its fastest rate in more than two years. From April through June, the economy grew at a rate of 4.6 percent. That is good news following the first three-month of the year when the country's economy shrank by more than two percent.
Some economists say the second quarter growth is a sign that the U.S. economy is finally improving. Others are not so sure.
A severe winter is blamed for hurting businesses and keeping Americans away from shopping centers early in the year. The sharp increase in economic activity from April to June was welcome.
But Bankrate.com financial expert Greg McBride says it is only three-month of growth. He spoke with VOA on Skype.
"It's certainly nice to see a rebound after the disastrous first quarter that we had. But as I like to say - one in a row is not a streak," McBride said.
Much depends on whether the economy continues to improve in the last six-month of 2014.
However, the sharp fall in the first three months of the year means the gross domestic product - the widest measure of the nation's economic output - is unlikely to increase more than last year's 2.2 percent growth.
Investors on Wall Street, however, have confidence in the economy. The new growth numbers pushed stock prices higher. The S&P 500 Index, an important stock market measure has reached close to two thousand points in recent weeks. That is not far from its record high of 2011 points.
David Stockton is an expert with the Peterson Institute for International Economics. He says business conditions are improving.
"I think it does suggest the U.S. economy is moving forward, it's moving forward at a moderate pace, and the condition of U.S. businesses is such that they're increasing their investment spending," said Stockton.
The Bureau of Economic Analysis or BEA said increased business spending and exports cause the increase in growth. That also could help the job market. The national unemployment rate is currently 6.1 percent. However, wages have remained mostly unchanged although there has been some job growth in the last year.
Greg McBride believes that is changing.
"The leading category for job growth here in 2014 is professional and business services, so these tend to be higher paying jobs. The job market actually has a little bit of momentum going for it - that's the good news - and has been far more consistent than what we've seen in terms of economic growth," McBride said.
And that's the Economics Report in Learning English. For more of our programs, visit our websitewww.kekenet.com. I'm Mario Ritter.
VOA英文文本来自51VOA，译文由可可原创，未经许可请勿转载。
词汇学习
1.expand v. 使扩张；扩大；发展
I owned a bookshop and desired to expand the business.
我拥有一家书店，想要扩大业务。
2.shrink vt.& vi. 收缩，皱缩
There was a general acceptance that the defence budget would shrink.
人们普遍相信国防预算将会缩减。
3.rebound v.弹回；回升
His shot in the 21st minute of the game rebounded from a post...
在比赛进行到第21分钟时，他的一记射门击中门柱弹了回来。
4.moderate adj. 有节制的；稳健的，温和的
Futures prices recovered from sharp early declines to end with moderate losses.
期货价格在早盘深幅下跌后出现反弹，收盘时未见严重损失。
5.momentum n. 势头；动力
Demands for his dismissal have gathered momentum in recent weeks.
最近几周，要求将他解职的呼声越来越高。
6.consistent adj. 一致的；连续的
He was rational and consistent in the conduct of his affairs.
他处理私事时头脑清楚，始终如一。
内容解析
1.A severe winter is blamed for hurting businesses and keeping Americans away from shopping centers early in the year.
blame for因…怪罪，责怪（某人）
Don't keep blaming your little sister for your bad behavior.
不要总是把你的不良行为怪在你的小妹妹身上。
2.But as I like to say - one in a row is not a streak.
这并没有代表性。一次的回弹并不代表经济回升。
3.I think it does suggest the U.S. economy is moving forward.
move forward前进
It provides the thrust that makes the craft move forward.
它提供了飞机前进所需的推力。
参考翻译
美国之音慢速学英语节目，这里是经济报道。
商务部表示，美国经济以两年多来最快的速度增长。从4月份至6月份，美国经济增长了4.6%。继第一季度的三个月美国经济缩减了超过2%之后，这是个好消息。
一些经济学家表示，第二季度的经济增长是美国经济状况最终得以好转的迹象。其他人则不是很确信。
经济学家认为严寒的冬季对企业造成了破坏，使美国人在今年早些时候远离购物中心。4月份至6月份经济活动的大幅增长是受欢迎的。
但是Bankrate.com金融专家Greg McBride表示，这仅仅是三个月的增长而已。他通过Skype接受了VOA采访。
“经过灾难性的第一季度之后，看到经济反弹当然是好的。但是我要说，这没有代表性。一次的反弹不意味着经济回暖。”
这很大程度上取决于2014年下半年经济是否继续增长。
然而，今年前三个月经济的严重缩减意味着国内生产总值不可能超过去年2.2%的增长率。国内生产总值是衡量国家经济产值最广泛的标准。
然而，华尔街投资者对经济有信心。新的增长数据导致股价上升。近几周，重要的股市衡量指数标准普尔500指数已经接近2,000点。这距离最高点2011点已经不远了。
David Stockton是彼得森国际经济研究所的专家。他表示，企业状况正在改善。
“我认为这表明美国经济正在进步，以温和的速度进步。美国的企业状况正在改善，投资收入正在增加。”
美国经济分析局(BEA)表示，企业花费和出口的增加导致经济增长。这也对就业市场有所帮助。目前的全国失业率是6.1%。然而，尽管去年就业率有所增长，工资水平却几乎未变。
Greg McBride相信改变正在发生。
“2014年就业增长的主要领域是专业和商业服务方面，这些往往都是高薪职位。就业市场由此获得了一些增长势头，这是个好消息，它远比我们所看到的经济增长更加准确。”
以上就是今天的学英语经济报道节目。要了解更多内容，请登录我们的网站查看。我是Mario Ritter。
