2006年VOA标准英语-US Central Bank Hints at Pause in Rate Hik

By Barry Wood
Washington
27 April 2006

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke told the Congressional Joint¹ Economic Committee Thursday that economic data will be particularly important in guiding central bank decisions on interest rates.  The U.S. central bank chief said higher energy prices and a slowdown in rising house prices have created uncertainties² that make forecasting more difficult.

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Ben Bernanke 
  

In an effort to contain inflationary pressure, the Federal Reserve has raised short-term interest rates 15 times, or by nearly four percentage points, over a two-year period.  Bernanke, who succeeded Alan Greenspan in February, signaled financial markets that the two-year-long period of monetary³ tightening⁴ may be near an end.

"At some point in the future the committee may decide to take no action at one or more meetings, in the interest of allowing more time in receiving more information relevant to the outlook," he said.

The central bank meets roughly every six weeks to set interest rates.  Its next meeting is May 10.  Short-term U.S. interest rates are 4.75 percent.

While the U.S. economy has been growing at a four percent rate during the past three years, Bernanke expects growth to slow somewhat, due in large part to higher energy costs.

"One issue we will be looking at very carefully is whether the increases in energy prices we have already seen, and that we may see in the future, whether they pass through into core inflation," he added.  "In other words, do they go beyond the energy sector⁵ itself and begin to be seen in higher prices for other goods and services.   

Energy prices have more than tripled in the past three years.  And as American consumers spend more on fuel to get to and from work, they have less money left for other purchases.

1 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

2 uncertainties   

无把握( uncertainty的名词复数 )； 不确定； 变化不定； 无把握、不确定的事物

参考例句：

• One of the uncertainties of military duty is that you never know when you might suddenly get posted away. 任军职不稳定的因素之一是你永远不知道什么时候会突然被派往它处。
• Uncertainties affecting peace and development are on the rise. 影响和平与发展的不确定因素在增加。 来自汉英非文学 - 十六大报告

3 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

4 tightening   

上紧，固定，紧密

参考例句：

• Make sure the washer is firmly seated before tightening the pipe. 旋紧水管之前，检查一下洗衣机是否已牢牢地固定在底座上了。
• It needs tightening up a little. 它还需要再收紧些。

5 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。