美國消費者信心指數(shù)意外大幅下跌

Hopes for a swift global recovery suffered a jolt yesterday as freezing winter weather contributed to a sudden drop in spending and confidence across several advanced economies.

對全球經(jīng)濟(jì)迅速復(fù)蘇的希望昨日受到打擊。在一些發(fā)達(dá)經(jīng)濟(jì)體，嚴(yán)冬天氣推動消費及信心驟然下降。

Although policymakers predicted a bumpy rebound in global economic health, the raft of negative data in the US and Europe confounded analysts' predictions and halted gains in equity markets.

雖然政策制定者預(yù)計全球經(jīng)濟(jì)將經(jīng)歷一段崎嶇不平的道路才能恢復(fù)健康，但美國和歐洲的一連串負(fù)面經(jīng)濟(jì)數(shù)據(jù)還是讓分析師困擾，并遏止了股市漲勢。

At the close of trading in London, the S&P 500 index had fallen by almost 1 per cent to 1,097, the FTSE 100 index was off 0.7 per cent at 5,315 and the Eurofirst 300 index was down 1.3 per cent at 1,010.

倫敦股市收盤時，美國標(biāo)普500指數(shù)下跌近1%，至1097點；英國富時100指數(shù)下跌0.7%，至5315點；歐洲Eurofirst 300指數(shù)下跌1.3%，至1010點。

Markets were most unnerved by an unexpected fall in US consumer confidence. According to the Conference Board, the global business group, Americans had turned more pessimistic about both present and future economic conditions.

最讓市場感到驚慌失措的，是美國消費者信心意外下跌。全球商業(yè)組織——世界大型企業(yè)聯(lián)合會(Conference Board)的數(shù)據(jù)顯示，美國人對當(dāng)前和未來的經(jīng)濟(jì)態(tài)勢都變得更加悲觀。

Its index of confidence fell from 56.5 in January to 46 this month, its lowest level since April 2009.

本月，該組織編制的信心指數(shù)從1月份的56.5下降到46，為2009年4月以來的最低水平。

Brian Bethune, chief US financial economist at Global Insight, said that the severe weather had undermined consumer sentiment. “Consumer spending is not expected to energise the recovery in 2010, but rather plod along at relatively subdued rates. Today's report simply reinforces that view,” he said.

Global Insight美國首席金融經(jīng)濟(jì)學(xué)家布萊恩•貝休恩(Brian Bethune)表示，惡劣天氣削弱了消費者情緒。“預(yù)計今年消費開支無法為經(jīng)濟(jì)復(fù)蘇提供動力，而只能保持相當(dāng)緩慢的腳步。今日的報告只是加強(qiáng)了這種觀點。”

Data yesterday showed that German business confidence had fallen for the first time in a year, while French consumers had cut back on spending.

昨日出爐的數(shù)據(jù)顯示，德國商業(yè)信心一年來首次出現(xiàn)下降；法國消費者縮減了開支。

Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, said the eurozone “appears to have stalled”.

英國央行行長默文•金(Mervyn King)表示，歐元區(qū)“似乎已陷入停滯”。