昨日最新數據顯示，美國上月零售有所下降，處于困境的美國消費者開始緊縮支出的證據進一步增強。
Evidence that the embattled US consumer is starting to pull back on spending mounted yesterday after new data revealed that retail sales fell last month.
上述消息拖低了股市和美元，而債券價格則接近4年高點，投資者一度加大了對美聯(lián)儲(Fed)將在本月政策會議上降息高達75個基點的押注——不過美聯(lián)儲觀察人士認為，降息50個基點的可能性更大。
The news sent stocks and the dollar tumbling, while bond prices approached four-year highs and investors briefly increased their bets that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates by as much as 75 basis points at its policy meeting this month – although Fed watchers think 50bp is more likely
標準普爾500指數(S&P 500)收盤下跌2.1%至1386.78點，接近去年3月份以來的最低收盤點位。歐洲股市則出現了自去年8月份以來的單日跌幅，而亞洲市場也面臨壓力。泛歐的富時Eurofirst 300指數(FTSE Eurofirst 300)下跌2.6%，至2006年10月以來的最低水平。在倫敦，富時100指數(FTSE 100)下跌190.1點至6025.6點，跌幅為3.1%，為去年8月以來的最低點位。自今年初以來，該指數跌幅接近7%。
The S&P 500 was down 2.1 per cent at 1,386.78, and set for its lowest close since March. European stocks suffered their worst one-day falls since last August, while Asia also came under pressure. The pan-European FTSE Eurofirst 300 index fell 2.6 per cent to its lowest level since October 2006. In London, the FTSE 100 index fell 190.1 points, or 3.1 per cent, to 6,025.6 – its lowest since August. The index has fallen nearly 7 per cent since the start of this year.
美國商務部稱，經季節(jié)性因素調整后的12月份零售銷售下降0.4%。不包括波動較大的汽車及零部件采購，銷售的降幅也是0.4%，超出市場此前的預期。
Seasonally adjusted retail sales fell by 0.4 per cent in December, according to the commerce department. Excluding volatile purchases of automobiles and parts, sales were also down by 0.4 per cent, more than the market had expected.
去年10月和11月的銷售數據均進行了向下修正，不過11月份的銷售數據仍相當強勁。2007年全年的零售銷售增速是5年來最慢的。
October and November sales were also both revised down, though the November figure remained very strong. Retail sales for all of 2007 grew at the slowest pace for five years.
上述銷售數據發(fā)布前不久，美國發(fā)布了去年12月份就業(yè)報告。報告顯示，失業(yè)率升至5%。
The sales data comes hard on the heels of the December jobs report, which showed unemployment jumped to 5 per cent.
摩根士丹利(Morgan Stanley)首席美國經濟學家理查德?伯納(Richard Berner)表示：“消費者正在退卻?，F在談論崩潰還為時過早，但至少消費者已明顯變得謹慎起來?！?BR> Richard Berner, chief US economist at Morgan Stanley, said: “The consumer is retreating. It is too soon to say cracking, but the consumer is clearly turning cautious at the very least.”
Evidence that the embattled US consumer is starting to pull back on spending mounted yesterday after new data revealed that retail sales fell last month.
上述消息拖低了股市和美元，而債券價格則接近4年高點，投資者一度加大了對美聯(lián)儲(Fed)將在本月政策會議上降息高達75個基點的押注——不過美聯(lián)儲觀察人士認為，降息50個基點的可能性更大。
The news sent stocks and the dollar tumbling, while bond prices approached four-year highs and investors briefly increased their bets that the Federal Reserve could cut interest rates by as much as 75 basis points at its policy meeting this month – although Fed watchers think 50bp is more likely
標準普爾500指數(S&P 500)收盤下跌2.1%至1386.78點，接近去年3月份以來的最低收盤點位。歐洲股市則出現了自去年8月份以來的單日跌幅，而亞洲市場也面臨壓力。泛歐的富時Eurofirst 300指數(FTSE Eurofirst 300)下跌2.6%，至2006年10月以來的最低水平。在倫敦，富時100指數(FTSE 100)下跌190.1點至6025.6點，跌幅為3.1%，為去年8月以來的最低點位。自今年初以來，該指數跌幅接近7%。
The S&P 500 was down 2.1 per cent at 1,386.78, and set for its lowest close since March. European stocks suffered their worst one-day falls since last August, while Asia also came under pressure. The pan-European FTSE Eurofirst 300 index fell 2.6 per cent to its lowest level since October 2006. In London, the FTSE 100 index fell 190.1 points, or 3.1 per cent, to 6,025.6 – its lowest since August. The index has fallen nearly 7 per cent since the start of this year.
美國商務部稱，經季節(jié)性因素調整后的12月份零售銷售下降0.4%。不包括波動較大的汽車及零部件采購，銷售的降幅也是0.4%，超出市場此前的預期。
Seasonally adjusted retail sales fell by 0.4 per cent in December, according to the commerce department. Excluding volatile purchases of automobiles and parts, sales were also down by 0.4 per cent, more than the market had expected.
去年10月和11月的銷售數據均進行了向下修正，不過11月份的銷售數據仍相當強勁。2007年全年的零售銷售增速是5年來最慢的。
October and November sales were also both revised down, though the November figure remained very strong. Retail sales for all of 2007 grew at the slowest pace for five years.
上述銷售數據發(fā)布前不久，美國發(fā)布了去年12月份就業(yè)報告。報告顯示，失業(yè)率升至5%。
The sales data comes hard on the heels of the December jobs report, which showed unemployment jumped to 5 per cent.
摩根士丹利(Morgan Stanley)首席美國經濟學家理查德?伯納(Richard Berner)表示：“消費者正在退卻?，F在談論崩潰還為時過早，但至少消費者已明顯變得謹慎起來?！?BR> Richard Berner, chief US economist at Morgan Stanley, said: “The consumer is retreating. It is too soon to say cracking, but the consumer is clearly turning cautious at the very least.”