【新唐人2011年7月18日訊】【看新聞學英語】
Japan: Prices Up, But Deflation Not Over
日本：物價指數上漲，但通貨緊縮未結束
By Jessie Chen, David Lee
【新聞關鍵字】
1. deflation: n. [dɪˋfleʃən]通貨緊縮
2. price gauge: n. [praɪs gedʒ]物價指數
3. be far from: ph. [bi] [fɑr frɑm]一點也沒、絶沒有
4. underlying price: n. [͵ʌndɚˋlaɪɪŋ praɪs]基礎價格
5. edge: v. [ɛdʒ]徐徐移動
6. upward: adj. [ˋʌpwɚd]向上的
7. in line with: ph. [ɪn laɪn wɪð]與…一致
8. issue: v. [ˋɪʃjʊ]發佈
9. escape from: ph. [əˋskep frɑm]逃脫
10. nagging: adj. [ˋnægɪŋ]使人不得安寧的
11. squeeze: v. [skwiz]擠壓、緊縮
12. consumer sentiment: n. [kənˋsjum sɛntəmənt]消費者信心
Japan’s main price gauge rose for the first time in more than two years, but the country’s battle with deflation is far from over.
日本主要物價指數，兩年多來首次上揚，但與通貨緊縮之戰，離結束還遠。
Core consumer prices rose 0.6 percent in the year to April, marking the first rise since December 2008.
今年到四月為止，核心消費者物價上漲0.6％，是2008年12月以來首次上漲。
Factors such as rising commodity costs were behind the increase in the Consumer Price Index, but data shows underlying prices and consumption in Japan still remain weak following the March earthquake.
消費物價指數上升的背後因素，是商品成本上升，但數據顯示日本基礎價格和消費，繼三月發生地震後，仍然疲弱。
Core consumer prices are likely to continue to edge upward due to high oil prices, in line with Bank of Japan forecasts issued last month.
核心消費物價由於高油價，很可能繼續往向上攀升，這與日本央行上月發佈的預測一致。
But economists say the rise in the headline price gauge does not mean Japan will escape from nagging deflation, given a weak labor market and low corporate hiring.
但經濟學家說，從疲軟的勞動市場和低迷的企業雇用可得知，主要物價指數的上昇，並不表示日本將擺脫通貨緊縮的困擾。
Company profits have also been squeezed by poor consumer sentiment, with many Japanese households still unwilling to spend and searching for cheaper goods.
公司的獲利也因消費者情緒低迷而削減，許多日本家庭仍不願消費，並尋找更便宜的物品。
本則影音新聞出處：新唐人電視台英語新聞
http://english.ntdtv.com/ntdtv_en/news_business/2011-05-27/japan-prices-up-but-deflation-not-over.html
本專欄由前衛英語李德良老師主編 www.davidlee.url.tw
【佳句精選】
Company profits have also been squeezed by poor consumer sentiment.
公司的獲利也因消費者情緒低迷而削減
【每日一句】
You shouldn’t put off the things that you need to do today.
你不該拖延你今天必須做的事