Consumer confidence slightly up despite CPI rebound

 　　BEIJING, April 9 (Xinhua) -- China's consumer confidence increased slightly in March even though inflation rose last month from February.

　　The Bankcard Consumer Confidence Index (BCCI), jointly¹ compiled and released by Xinhua News Agency and China UnionPay, stood at 86.77 in March, up 0.08 percentage point from February. The March figure was released Monday.

　　A higher reading of the index shows improvement in residents' confidence to consume. The index is based on bank card transaction data and analysis of structural² changes in urban consumption. The index was first released in April 2009. It stood at 86.95 for the first quarter of 2009.

　　The National Bureau of Statistics said China's consumer price index (CPI), the main gauge³ of inflation, rose 3.6 percent year-on-year in March, up from a 3.2-percent rise registered in the previous month.

　　The BCCI report said that despite the rebound⁴, inflation was still running at a relatively⁵ low level, and that price fluctuations⁶ of some seasonal⁷ products were having a limited impact on consumer confidence.

　　The report said consumer confidence was further boosted by discount activities in shopping malls and department stores for Women's Day in March, and more willingness of consumers to spend in spring.

1 jointly   

ad.联合地，共同地

参考例句：

• Tenants are jointly and severally liable for payment of the rent. 租金由承租人共同且分别承担。
• She owns the house jointly with her husband. 她和丈夫共同拥有这所房子。

2 structural   

adj.构造的，组织的，建筑（用）的

参考例句：

• The storm caused no structural damage.风暴没有造成建筑结构方面的破坏。
• The North American continent is made up of three great structural entities.北美大陆是由三个构造单元组成的。

3 gauge   

v.精确计量；估计；n.标准度量；计量器

参考例句：

• Can you gauge what her reaction is likely to be?你能揣测她的反应可能是什么吗？
• It's difficult to gauge one's character.要判断一个人的品格是很困难的。

4 rebound   

v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回

参考例句：

• The vibrations accompanying the rebound are the earth quake.伴随这种回弹的振动就是地震。
• Our evil example will rebound upon ourselves.我们的坏榜样会回到我们自己头上的。

5 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

6 fluctuations   

波动，涨落，起伏( fluctuation的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He showed the price fluctuations in a statistical table. 他用统计表显示价格的波动。
• There were so many unpredictable fluctuations on the Stock Exchange. 股票市场瞬息万变。

7 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。