Japan's GDP shrinks 1.1% in 4th quarter 2010

    TOKYO, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Japan's economy shrank(缩小) an annualized real 1.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010, marking the first contraction¹ in five quarters, the Cabinet Office said Monday.
    The October-December period figure, measured by gross domestic product（国内生产总值）, means a 0.3 percent fall from the previous three-month period.
    The figures beat forecasts of an annualized 2.2 percent contraction and 0.6 percent quarterly decline in a Kyodo News survey. Analysts² said the downturn was a natural result of the slowdown in exports and weaker domestic consumer demand.
    Japan's real GDP grew 3.9 percent in 2010, according to government statistics. A nominal³ GDP of 5.474 trillion U.S. dollars only secured a third spot for Japan in the world, behind the United States and China.
    Japan's Economics Minister Kaoru Yosano said he welcomed China' s advancement⁴ as the world's second-biggest economy.
    Despite its quarterly GDP contraction, analysts believed signs of recovery are seen in Japan's economy. Its exports accelerated for a second month in a row in Dec. and picked up briskly in 2010 from a year earlier, thanks largely to the robust⁵ demand from China and other Asian economies.(本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 contraction   

n.缩略词，缩写式，害病

参考例句：

• The contraction of this muscle raises the lower arm.肌肉的收缩使前臂抬起。
• The forces of expansion are balanced by forces of contraction.扩张力和收缩力相互平衡。

2 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

3 nominal   

adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的

参考例句：

• The king was only the nominal head of the state. 国王只是这个国家名义上的元首。
• The charge of the box lunch was nominal.午餐盒饭收费很少。

4 advancement   

n.前进，促进，提升

参考例句：

• His new contribution to the advancement of physiology was well appreciated.他对生理学发展的新贡献获得高度赞赏。
• The aim of a university should be the advancement of learning.大学的目标应是促进学术。

5 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。