美国建筑商信心降至一年来最低

　　WASHINGTON, May 15 (Xinhua) -- U.S. builder confidence for newly- built, single-family homes fell to the lowest level in a year in May as the recovery of housing market is cooling, a leading industry report said Thursday.
The builder sentiment index in March decreased one point to 45, worse than the average market expectation of 49, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).
It was the fourth consecutive¹ month that the reading was below 50, indicating that more builders viewed sales conditions as poor rather than favorable.
"After four months in which the HMI has shown little signs of fluctuation², it is clear that builder sentiment is becoming more in line with the market reality of a continuing but modest recovery," said the NAHB chairman Kevin Kelly said in a statement.
The component³ gauging⁴ current sales conditions fell two points to 48 in May, and the component gauging sales expectations in the next six months rose one point to 57, while the component measuring buyer traffic increased two points to 33.
"Builders are waiting for consumers to feel more secure about their financial situation," said NAHB Chief Economist⁵ David Crowe. "Once job growth becomes more consistent, consumers will return to the market in larger numbers and that will boost builder confidence."
The U.S. housing market has showed signs of slowdown since the second half of last year, as sharp increases in home prices and limited inventories⁶, as well as higher mortgage rates have discouraged many home buyers.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。

2 fluctuation   

n.(物价的)波动，涨落；周期性变动；脉动

参考例句：

• The erratic fluctuation of market prices are in consequence of unstable economy.经济波动致使市场物价忽起忽落。
• Early and adequate drainage is essential if fluctuation occurs.有波动感时，应及早地充分引流。

3 component   

n.组成部分，成分，元件；adj.组成的，合成的

参考例句：

• Each component is carefully checked before assembly.每个零件在装配前都经过仔细检查。
• Blade and handle are the component parts of a knife.刀身和刀柄是一把刀的组成部分。

4 gauging   

n.测量[试]，测定，计量v.（用仪器）测量( gauge的现在分词 )；估计；计量；划分

参考例句：

• The method is especially attractive for gauging natural streams. 该方法对于测量天然的流注具有特殊的吸引力。 来自辞典例句
• Incommunicative as he was, some time elapsed before I had an opportunity of gauging his mind. 由于他不爱说话，我过了一些时候才有机会探测他的心灵。 来自辞典例句

5 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

6 inventories   

n.总结( inventory的名词复数 )；细账；存货清单（或财产目录）的编制

参考例句：

• In other cases, such as inventories, inputs and outputs are both continuous. 在另一些情况下，比如存货，其投入和产出都是持续不断的。
• The store must clear its winter inventories by April 1st. 该店必须在4月1日前售清冬季存货。