Data Show More Bad News for US Economy
数据显示美国经济四季度或更糟

　 
World markets were mixed Tuesday amid confirmation that the U.S. economy shrank in the third quarter of the year. The Bush administration says it believes fourth quarter numbers will be even worse.

世界股市星期二涨跌互现，与此同时，美国证实其经济在今年第三季度出现收缩。布什政府说，今年第四季度的经济数据可能会更糟。

The U.S. Commerce Department says the U.S. economy contracted at an annual rate of 0.5 percent between July and September, matching a previously-released initial estimate. Consumer spending and exports slumped, while corporate profits also declined.

美国商务部说，美国经济在今年7月到9月间比去年同期收缩了0.5%，这和政府之前发布的初步预估相同。消费者支出和出口都大幅下降，公司利润也下跌。

White House spokesman Tony Fratto says the third quarter gross domestic product figure was not unexpected, and that the current quarter is almost certain to prove even grimmer.

白宫发言人弗拉托说，第三季度的国内生产总值数字并不出人意料，而且几乎可以肯定，第四季度的经济数据会更糟。

"The fourth quarter we know, because of the credit crisis and the financial market turmoil, will be significantly weaker," he said. "We see that already in the monthly payroll data that has been reported. So it is a tough quarter. What we have been focused on is implementing the financial rescue package and the efforts of the Fed to restore growth, to free up credit so that the economy can get healthy again."

他说：“由于信贷危机和金融市场动荡，第四季度的经济会大幅减弱。我们已经在公布的月工资单数据中看到了这一趋势。因此这会是一个艰难的季度。我们工作的重点是实施金融救助计划和美联储为恢复经济发展所做的努力，放松信贷市场，这样，经济就能恢复健康运行。”

The United States is believed to have been in a recession since December of last year. During that time, U.S. unemployment has jumped a full percentage point.

据信，美国从去年12月开始就进入了经济衰退，在此期间，美国的失业率跳升了一个百分点。

The economic slowdown has led business to slash prices in hopes of kindling demand for goods and services. But consumers are not celebrating, according to Diane Swonk, chief economist for U.S.-based Mesirow Financial.

经济放缓使商家大幅降低商品价格，希望这样能刺激消费者对商品和服务的需求。不过，美国麦斯洛金融公司的首席经济学家斯旺克说，消费者并没有因此而欣喜若狂。

"Life is getting cheaper, but unfortunately jobs are getting more scarce. Also, those people who are working are finding that they have less money in their coffers," she said.

斯旺克说：“生活的支出越来越便宜了，可不幸的是，工作机会也越来越少。此外，那些有工作的人发现，他们手里的钱变少了。”

Many economists point to America's moribund housing market as a major contributor to the economic downturn. The Commerce Department is reporting more bad news on that front, with new home sales dropping nearly three percent in November to the slowest pace recorded in 17 years.

许多经济学家说，疲软的美国房屋市场是造成经济下滑的主要原因。商务部报告说，房屋市场又出现了新的坏消息，11月的新房销售量下降了近3%。这是17年来房屋销售速度最慢的一个月。

One bright spot for consumers is the continuing decline in fuel prices. Oil fell below $38 a barrel Tuesday, extending a dramatic slide in prices since the commodity peaked at nearly $150 a barrel in July.

对消费者来说，一个好消息是油价在继续回落。星期二，原油价格跌破每桶38美元，延续了油价在今年7月创下每桶近150美元的最高纪录之后一直惊人下滑的趋势。

"Even with OPEC having one of the biggest [oil] production cuts in history, not even that is enough to overcome the drop in demand due to the slowing global economy. And that is why these prices are so low," said energy analyst Phil Flynn.

能源分析家弗林说：“虽然石油输出国组织采取了历史上最大规模的减产，但是这依然不足以抑制全球经济放缓导致的需求锐减。这就是油价这么低的原因。”

Economic pain is not limited to the United States. Poland's unemployment rate has spiked above nine percent, prompting the country's central bank to cut interest rates for the second time in as many months.Most major financial markets saw light pre-holiday trading.

经济痛苦并不是仅仅局限于美国。波兰的失业率骤升到9%以上，促使波兰央行在两个月内两次降低利率。世界大部分股市在节日前的交易量清淡。

Tokyo and London closed modestly higher, while Hong Kong, Paris and Frankfurt recorded moderate loses.

东京和伦敦股市小幅收高，而香港、巴黎和法兰克福股市略微收低。