US economic outlook 'optimistic'

The US economic outlook has become "cautiously （谨慎的）optimistic", according to the latest issue of the Federal Reserve's influential¹ Beige Book.

Five of the 12 districts surveyed said there were signs of improvement, with five showing signs of stabilisation（稳定） since the last report in July.

Overall, economic activity "continued to stabilise", the report said.

Many economists² believe the US economy has bottomed（触底） out and is slowly starting to recover.

The mildly upbeat report had little impact on stock markets.

Weak demand

Most regions reported some improvement in residential³ property markets, despite "downward pressure on home prices".

They also reported "modest（温和） improvements" in the manufacturing sector⁴.

But the report also found that retail⁵ sales in the majority of districts remained flat.

This is particularly important in the US where consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of overall economic activity.

It also found that demand for commercial property remained weak and that demand for loans was subdued⁶ - figures released on Tuesday showed that US consumers slashed⁷ their borrowing by a record amount in July.

The Beige Book, compiled eight times a year and used to help set interest rates, is based on a survey of business views from around the US. (本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑)

1 influential   

adj.有影响的，有权势的

参考例句：

• He always tries to get in with the most influential people.他总是试图巴结最有影响的人物。
• He is a very influential man in the government.他在政府中是个很有影响的人物。

2 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 residential   

adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的

参考例句：

• The mayor inspected the residential section of the city.市长视察了该市的住宅区。
• The residential blocks were integrated with the rest of the college.住宿区与学院其他部分结合在了一起。

4 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

5 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

6 subdued   

adj. 屈服的，柔和的，减弱的 动词subdue的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He seemed a bit subdued to me. 我觉得他当时有点闷闷不乐。
• I felt strangely subdued when it was all over. 一切都结束的时候，我却有一种奇怪的压抑感。

7 slashed   

v.挥砍( slash的过去式和过去分词 )；鞭打；割破；削减

参考例句：

• Someone had slashed the tyres on my car. 有人把我的汽车轮胎割破了。
• He slashed the bark off the tree with his knife. 他用刀把树皮从树上砍下。 来自《简明英汉词典》