Name: 消費者因收入下降而減少消費。 (Consumers cut back on spending as income drops)
Uploaded: 2020-12-24T19:10:50.000Z
Duration: 1 min 42 s

Consumer spending, the biggest driver of economic activity, fell for the first time since the recovery began in May.

作為經濟活動的最大驅動力，消費者支出自5月開始復甦以來首次出現下降。

The Commerce Department reported that personal spending fell 0.4% in November as Americans cut back on purchases of cars, clothing and shoes and spent less at restaurants and bars that offset increases in spending at supermarkets and liquor stores.

商務部報告稱，11月個人支出下降0.4%，因為美國人減少購買汽車、服裝和鞋子，減少在餐館和酒吧的消費，抵消了超市和酒類商店的消費增長。

Less spending was coupled with a plunge in personal income, which declined 1.1% last month.

支出減少，加上個人收入驟減，上月個人收入下降1.1%。

That dip reflects the expiration of a government loan program for businesses hurt by the pandemic.

這一跌幅反映了政府為受疫情傷害的企業提供的貸款計劃的到期。

Ah third Commerce report showed business spending rose, but the pace has slowed.

啊第三份商業報告顯示，商業支出上升，但速度有所放緩。

Separately, the Labor Department reported Wednesday that the number of Americans filing first time claims for jobless benefits unexpectedly fell last week to 803,000.

另外，勞工部週三報告稱，上週首次申請失業救濟金的美國人數量意外下降至80.3萬人。

But that's still historically high, well above the peak of 665,000 claims filed during the great recession.

但這仍是歷史高位，遠高於大蕭條時期66.5萬的索賠申請峰值。

In a day flooded with economic news, sales of new homes fell more than expected in November.

在經濟新聞氾濫的今天，11月新房銷售量的下降幅度超過預期。

These reports come on the heels of data on Tuesday showing existing home sales decline last month, and consumer confidence slumped to a four month low in December.

這些報告是在週二的數據顯示上月成屋銷售下降，12月消費者信心下滑至四個月低點之後發佈的。

 Delays by Congress passing another rescue package now thrown into disarray by President Trump's threat of a veto and the surgeon coronavirus cases that has led to new business restrictions have sapped energy from the economy as a brutal year draws to a close. 

國會延後通過另一個救援方案，現在被總統特朗普的否決威脅和導致新的商業限制的外科冠狀病毒病例陷入混亂，隨著殘酷的一年接近尾聲，已經消耗了經濟的能量。