U.S. Fed sees economic recovery at modest pace

    WASHINGTON, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. central bank saw the country's economic activity continued to rise, but "at a modest pace," according to the latest Federal Reserve（联邦储备系统） survey released on Wednesday.
    The survey（调查）, known as the Beige Book, was based on economic information supplied by the Fed's 12 regional banks and collected during the reporting period from September to early October.
    In a slightly positive tone compared with the pervious（能接受的） period, the central bank cited an array of economic readings to depict¹ the current U.S. economic scenario², in which small businesses and consumers are grappling with weak confidence and stubbornly high unemployment.
    "Manufacturing activity continued to expand, with production and new orders rising across most Districts. Demand for nonfinancial services was reported to be stable to modestly increasing overall," said the Fed.
    Consumer spending was steady to up slightly, but consumers remained price-sensitive, and purchases were mostly limited to necessities and nondiscretionary items, according to the report.
    Housing market, which triggered this round of financial crisis, remained weak with most Districts reporting sales below year-ago levels, the survey indicated.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 depict   

vt.描画，描绘；描写，描述

参考例句：

• I don't care to see plays or films that depict murders or violence.我不喜欢看描写谋杀或暴力的戏剧或电影。
• Children's books often depict farmyard animals as gentle,lovable creatures.儿童图书常常把农场的动物描写得温和而可爱。

2 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。