23 消费信心逐渐提升
Consumer Confidence Edges Up
Elaine Johanson
New York
26 Jun 2001 17:33 UTC
Consumer confidence in the United States edged up this month, rising for the second month in a row. The Conference Board, a 1)private business research group, released its latest 2)survey today, as the U.S. central bank meets to consider action on interest rates.
The consumer confidence 3)index now stands at 117.9, rising almost two points from its level in May. But the key finding, what consumers expect over the next six months, was even more 4)positive. The so-called expectations index went up six points since May to 93. Analysts say Americans are more optimistic now than they have been all year long about business and job 5)prospects.
Conference Board economists say there was nothing in the survey to suggest that consumers will 6)drastically cut back on spending. Nor was there any 7)indication that Americans will spend a lot more. Their conclusion is that the U.S. economy should continue to expand at its current slow rate. "The buying plans were down, especially for the autos," said economist Delos Smith. "But autos have been holding up quite well. Homes were about unchanged. But the homes have been 8)sensational. So you can't ask anything better out of the [housing sector]. 9)Retail sales reports were a little mixed. So they're holding up quite well. But the key was that consumer confidence [expectations], because we reached a 70. That's very low. And now we're at 93. So the consumer is feeling better."
The June survey showed the employment outlook also was more 10)upbeat, with a higher percentage of people expecting more jobs to become available. Unemployment rolls have been 11)swelling, with nearly a half million jobs lost already this year.
So what does this all mean for interest rates? Many on Wall Street believe the central bank will announce a quarter percent cut at the end of its two-day meeting Wednesday. The five previous rate 12)cuts this year were each a half percentage point. But analysts say Federal Reserve policy-makers may think that the economic data lately, including consumer confidence, do not warrant another aggressive rate move.
注释：
(1)private [5praIvIt] adj.私人的, 私有的, 私营的
(2)survey [sE5veI] n.测量, 调查
(3)index [5Indeks] n.指数
(4)positive [5pRzItIv] adj.肯定的, 实际的, 积极的
(5)prospect [prE5spekt; (?@) 5prRspekt] n.景色, 前景, 前途, 期望
(6)drastically [5drAstik] adv.激烈地, 彻底地
(7)indication [IndI5keIF(E)n] n.指出, 指示, 迹象, 暗示
(8)sensational [sen`seIFLnEl] adj.使人感动的, 非常好的
(9)retail [5ri:teIl] n.零售 adj.零售的
(10)upbeat [5Qpbi:t] n.上升, 兴旺 adj.乐观的, 欢乐的
(11)swell [swel] v.(使)膨胀, 增大
(12)cut [kQt] n.削减