考研英语真题阅读 经济发展.docx

考研英语真题阅读经济发展

Whenitcomestotheslowingeconomy,EllenSperoisn’tbitinghernailsjustyet.Butthe47-year-oldmanicuristisn’tcutting,fillingorpolishingasmanynailsasshe’dliketo,either.Mostofherclientsspend$12to$50weekly,butlastmonthtwolongtimecustomerssuddenlystoppedshowingup.Speroblamesthesofteningeconomy.“I’magoodeconomicindicator,”shesays.“Iprovideaservicethatpeoplecandowithoutwhenthey’reconcernedaboutsavingsomedollars.”SoSperoisdownscaling,shoppingatmiddle-browDillard’sdepartmentstorenearhersuburbanClevelandhome,insteadofNeimanMarcus.“Idon’tknowifotherclientsaregoingtoabandonme,too”shesays.EvenbeforeAlanGreenspan’sadmissionthatAmerica’sred-hoteconomyiscooling,lotsofworkingfolkshadalreadyseensignsoftheslowdownthemselves.FromcardealershipstoGapoutlets,saleshavebeenlaggingformonthsasshopperstempertheirspending.Forretailers,wholastyeartookin24percentoftheirrevenuebetweenThanksgivingandChristmas,thecautiousapproachiscomingatacrucialtime.Already,expertssay,holidaysalesareoff7percentfromlastyear’space.Butdon’tsoundanyalarmsjustyet.Consumersseemonlymildlyconcerned,notpanicked,andmanysaytheyremainoptimisticabouttheeconomy’slong-termprospects,evenastheydosomemodestbelt-tightening.Consumerssaythey’renotindespairbecause,despitethedreadfulheadlines,theirownfortunesstillfeelprettygood.Homepricesareholdingsteadyinmostregions.InManhattan,“there’sanewgoldrushhappeninginthe$4millionto$10millionrange,predominantlyfedbyWallStreetbonuses,”saysbrokerBarbaraCorcoran.InSanFrancisco,pricesarestillrisingevenasfrenziedoverbiddingquiets.“Insteadof20to30offers,nowmaybeyouonlygettwoorthree,”saysjohnTealdi,aBayAreareal-estatebroker.Andmostfolksstillfeelprettycomfortableabouttheirabilitytofindandkeepajob.Manyfolksseesilverliningstothisslowdown.Potentialhomebuyerswouldcheerforlowerinterestrates.Employerswouldn’tmindalittlefewerbubblesinthejobmarket.Manyconsumersseemtohavebeeninfluencedbystock-marketswings,whichinvestorsnowviewasanecessaryingredienttoasustainedboom.Dinersmightseeanupside,too.Gettingatableat