Some Wall Street Analysts Say US Economy

（单词翻译）

By Leah Krakinowski

After a sluggish¹ summer, some Wall Street analysts² say the U.S. economy is accelerating in the final months of 2004. Key drags on economic growth, a slump³ in consumer spending and the swelling⁴ trade deficit⁵, have eased. Surging oil prices, stagnating⁶ retail⁷ sales and stalled job growth proved to be a drain on the U.S. economy throughout the summer months of June through August.

But this so-called economic "soft patch" has come to an end, according to David Resler, chief economist⁸ of Nomura Securities. "We have come through this soft patch in economic activity apparently⁹, and we believe we have. We think we are going to have growth this quarter of 3.5 percent."

During a media briefing in New York, Mr. Resler blamed the run-up in energy prices and tight consumer spending since March of 2004 for shaving at least one percent of growth from the U.S. economy this year.

He said a cool summer, however, eased energy consumption, consumer spending is picking up and the employment picture has begun to improve.

On the business side, rising corporate¹⁰ profits and lower bankruptcy¹¹ filings have also contributed to this rosier¹² economic picture, according to Parul Jain, also an economist with the Wall Street firm, Nomura Securities.

"We have a forecast that is suggesting to us that, all right, we are going to get growth, good, solid growth, slightly above trend going into the fourth quarter of the year, and also in to 2005. It is not terribly exciting but it is not terribly low either. "

Ms. Jain says in the wake of corporate governance scandals such as Enron and Tyco, American companies have managed to clean out their balance sheets, and have started hiring. A healthier labor¹³ market brings wage and salary increases, both of which are tied to increased consumer spending.

This is Leah Krakinowski for VOA news in New York.
注释：
sluggish 漫长的，迟缓的
slump 暴跌
deficit 赤字，不足
retail sale 零售
consumption 消费
bankruptcy 破产