每日一读2014年6月高考英语考前突破 阅读理解能力 财经新闻 2014年第一季度美国gdp缩水2.9%.docVIP

2014年第一季度美国GDP缩水2.9% The US economy suffered its worst performance for five years in the first quarter of 2014, latest figures show. 最近数据显示，2014年第一季度美国经济遭遇近五年以来最差的表现。 ? The economy shrank at an annualised rate of 2.9% in the first three months of the year, the third estimate from the US Commerce Department showed. ? This was worse than the previous estimate of a 1% contraction, and also worse than economists expectations. ? However, the economy is expected to have recorded a sharp recovery during the second quarter of the year. ? The White House said the figures showed the economic recovery was still in progress, but added other indicators for April and May suggest a rebound in the second quarter. ? Spending downgrade ? The unusually cold weather in the first quarter of the year has been blamed for the poor performance of the economy. ? However, the gap between the second and third estimates of US growth for the quarter was the largest on record. ? The latest revision came as a result of a weaker pace of healthcare spending than previously assumed, which caused a downgrading of the consumer spending estimate.? ? Consumer spending - which is responsible for more than two-thirds of US economic growth - increased by 1% in the quarter, rather than the 3.1% rate as first estimated. ? Trade was also a bigger drag on the economy than previously thought, with exports falling by 8.9% rather than a previously estimated 6%. 1