战争使美国通胀风险加剧

在乌克兰战争爆发前的一个月里，物价以几十年来最快的速度攀升，凸显出美国和许多发达经济体面临的高风险，因为这场冲突可能会抬高成本。

双语精读

Prices climbed at the fastest pace in decades in the month leading up to the war in Ukraine, underlining the high stakes facing the United States-along with many developed economies-as the conflict promises to drive costs higher.

在乌克兰战争爆发前的一个月里，物价以几十年来最快的速度攀升，凸显出美国和许多发达经济体面临的高风险，因为这场冲突可能会抬高成本。

The Consumer Price Index rose by 7.9 percent through February, the fastest pace of annual inflation in 40 years.

2月份消费者价格指数上升了7.9%，这是40年来年通货膨胀速度最快的一次。

Rising food and rent costs contributed to the big increase, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said, as did a nascent surge in gas prices that will become more pronounced in the March inflation report.

美国劳工统计局表示，食品和租金成本的上涨是通货膨胀的原因之一，汽油价格刚出现的飙升也是其原因之一，而这将在3月份的通胀报告中变得更加明显。

The February report caught only the start of the surge in gas prices that came in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine late last month. Economists expect inflation to pick up even more in March because prices at the pump have since jumped to record-breaking highs.

2月份的报告只是抓住了天然气价格飙升的开始，而天然气价格的飙升是对俄罗斯上个月底入侵乌克兰的回应。经济学家们预计3月份的通货膨胀率将进一步上升，因为汽油的价格已经跳到了破纪录的高点。

The average price for a gallon of gas was $4.32 on Thursday, according to AAA [triple A]. Rapidly climbing costs are hitting consumers in the pocketbook, causing confidence to fall and stretching household budgets.

据美国汽车协会称，周四汽油的平均价格为每加仑4.32美元。快速攀升的成本打击了消费者的钱包，导致信心下降、家庭预算吃紧。

Rising wages and savings amassed during the pandemic have helped many families continue spending despite rising prices, but the burden is falling most intensely on lower-income households, which devote a big chunk of their budgets to daily necessities that are now swiftly becoming more expensive.

工资上涨和在大流行期间积累的储蓄帮助许多家庭在价格上涨的情况下继续消费，但负担最大的是低收入家庭，他们将大部分预算用于购买日常必需品，而这些必需品正迅速变得更加昂贵。

The price burst presents a challenge for President Biden, especially given that November's midterm elections are fast approaching. Democrats will need to battle to retain control of Congress at a time when voters are feeling the squeeze of higher expenses.

价格暴涨对拜登总统来说是一个挑战，尤其是考虑到11月的中期选举即将到来。在选民感受到了更高开支带来的压力之际，民主党人需要奋力保持对国会的控制。

On Thursday, Mr. Biden acknowledged the pain consumers are feeling from rapid inflation but pointed a finger at President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, blaming his invasion of Ukraine for fueling higher gas prices.

周四，拜登承认消费者正感受到快速通货膨胀带来的痛苦，但他将矛头指向了俄罗斯总统弗拉基米尔·普京，指责他对乌克兰的入侵推高了天然气价格。

Democrats tweeted about the report on Thursday using the hashtag #PutinPriceHike. "Today's inflation report is a reminder that Americans' budgets are being stretched by price increases and families are starting to feel the impacts of Putin's price hike," Mr. Biden said in a statement.

周四，民主党人在推特上使用#普京涨价#的标签发布了这份报告。拜登在一份声明中表示，“今天的通胀报告提醒我们，美国人的预算正因价格上涨而吃紧，家庭正开始感受到普京涨价的影响。”

"As I have said from the start, there will be costs at home as we impose crippling sanctions in response to Putin's unprovoked war, but Americans can know this: The costs we are imposing on Putin and his cronies are far more devastating than the costs we are facing."

“正如我从一开始就说过的，当我们对普京无端发动的战争实施严厉制裁时，国内会有代价，但美国人可以知道这一点：我们对普京和他的亲信所施加的代价远比我们所面临的代价更具破坏性。”

词汇预习

despite [高考]
美[dɪˈspaɪt] | 英[dɪˈspaɪt]
prep. 尽管；不管 n. 憎恨；轻视
response [高考]
美[rɪˈspɑːns] | 英[rɪˈspɒns]
n. 反应；回答；响应；答复
household [高考]
美[ˈhaʊshoʊld] | 英[ˈhaʊshəʊld]
n. 家庭；户 adj. 家庭的；家喻户晓的
reminder [高考]
美[rɪˈmaɪndər] | 英[rɪˈmaɪndə(r)]
n. 提醒物；提示；催单
retain [高考]
美[rɪˈteɪn] | 英[rɪˈteɪn]
vt. 保持；保留；记住；聘请
swiftly [高考]
美[ˈswɪftlɪ] | 英[ˈswɪftli]
adv. 迅速地；敏捷地
impose [高考]
美[ɪmˈpoʊz] | 英[ɪmˈpəʊz]
v. 强加；课征；强迫；征收(税款)
invasion [高考]
美[ɪnˈveɪʒn] | 英[ɪnˈveɪʒn]
n. 侵略；侵入
p.m. [高考]
美[ˈpiˈɛm] | 英[ˌpi: ˈem]
abbr. 下午（post meridiem）
pump [高考]
美[pʌmp] | 英[pʌmp]
n. 泵；抽水机；打气筒；抽水；打气 v. 打气；唧筒般运动；灌输；抽取；增加；[口]盘问
devote [高考]
美[dɪˈvoʊt] | 英[dɪˈvəʊt]
vt. 致力于；奉献给；把...专用于
battle [高考]
美[ˈbætl] | 英[ˈbætl]
n. 战斗；争斗 v. 与 ... 作战；与 ... 竞争
pace [高考]
美[peɪs] | 英[peɪs]
n. 速度；步伐；(一)步 v. 踱步；(用步)测；(马)溜蹄走 prep. 用在人名前(礼貌的表达不同意见)
annual [高考]
美[ˈænjuəl] | 英[ˈænjuəl]
adj. 每年的；年度的；一年生的 n. 年刊；一年生植物
burst [高考]
美[bɜːrst] | 英[bɜːst]
n. 爆发；破裂；阵 v. 爆裂；迸发；冲；闯
squeeze [高考]
美[skwiːz] | 英[skwiːz]
v. 挤压；塞进；压榨；设法腾出 n. 挤压；少量；拥挤；严控；财政困难
gallon [高考]
美[ˈɡælən] | 英[ˈɡælən]
n. 加仑(容量单位)
in response [高考]
美[ɪn rɪˈspɑns] | 英[in riˈspɔns]
作为回答
lower [高考]
美[ˈloʊər] | 英[ˈləʊə(r)]
adj. 低的；下级的；下层的 v. 降低；减弱；跌落
inflation [四级]
美[ɪnˈfleɪʃn] | 英[ɪnˈfleɪʃn]
n. 通货膨胀；膨胀
surge [四级]
美[sɜːrdʒ] | 英[sɜːdʒ]
n. 汹涌；波涛；猛增 v. 汹涌；涌起；激增；[海]缆绳滑脱
midterm [四级]
美[ˌmɪdˈtɜrm] | 英[ˌmɪdˈtɜ:m]
adj. 期中的 n. 期中考试
intensely [四级]
美[ɪnˈtɛnsli] | 英[ɪnˈtɛnsli]
adv. 强烈地；热切地
up to [四级]
美[ʌp tu] | 英[ʌp tu]
胜任；直到；多达；该由 ... 决定
along with [四级]
美[əˈlɔːŋ wɪð] | 英[əˈlɒŋ wɪð]
与...在一起；在...以外；沿着；随着；（除…之外）又…，加之
leading [四级]
美[ˈliːdɪŋ , ˈledɪŋ] | 英[ˈliːdɪŋ , ˈledɪŋ]
adj. 领导的；指导的；主要的；在前的
triple [四级]
美[ˈtrɪpl] | 英[ˈtrɪpl]
adj. 三部分的；三人的；三组的；三倍的 v. 成为三倍；使增至三倍 n. 三倍的数[量]；三个一组；【棒】三垒打
chunk [六级]
美[tʃʌŋk] | 英[tʃʌŋk]
n. 大块，厚块；大量，大部分；〈语言学〉话语组成部分，组块；矮胖的人或物 vt. （高尔夫球）没击中 vi. 发出猛冲的声音
stretched [专四]
美[stretʃt] | 英[stretʃt]
拉伸的
economies [专四]
美[ɪ'kɒnəmɪz] | 英[iˈkɔnəmiz]
节约；经济（名词economy的复数形式）
according [专四]
美[ə'kɔrdɪŋ] | 英[ə'kɔːdɪŋ]
adj. 相符的；相应的；一致的 v. 给予；符合，一致；正式协议（accord的现在分词）
nascent [托福]
美[ˈnæsənt, ˈnesənt] | 英[ˈnæsnt]
adj. 新生的；尚不成熟的；尚不发达的
pointed [托福]
美[ˈpɔɪntɪd] | 英[ˈpɔɪntɪd]
adj. 尖的；尖锐的；直截了当的；有针对性的
crippling [托福]
美[ˈkrɪplɪŋ] | 英['krɪplɪŋ]
adj. 严重损害身体的；造成严重后果的
pronounced [托福]
美[prəˈnaʊnst] | 英[prəˈnaʊnst]
adj. 显著的；断然的；明确的
devastating [雅思]
美[ˈdevəsteɪtɪŋ] | 英[ˈdevəsteɪtɪŋ]
adj. 毁灭性的；破坏性的；惊人的；压倒性的；有魅力的

重点讲解

Prices climbed at the fastest pace in decades in the month leading up to the war in Ukraine, underlining the high stakes facing the United States—along with many developed economies—as the conflict promises to drive costs higher.

在乌克兰战争爆发前的一个月里，物价以几十年来最快的速度攀升，凸显出美国和许多发达经济体面临的高风险，因为这场冲突可能会抬高成本。

lead up to

1. 导致

（英文释义：The events that led up to a particular event happened one after the other until that event occurred.）

【例】Alan Tomlinson has reconstructed the events that led up to the deaths.

阿伦·汤姆林森再现了导致死亡的事件。

2. 逐渐引到 (某一个话题)

【例】I'm leading up to something quite important.

我正要说到很重要的事情上。

stake n. & v.

1. 作名词

（1）单数，（在公司、计划等中的）重大利益，重大利害关系；

【例】She has a personal stake in the success of the play.

这出戏成功与否对她个人有重大利害关系。

（2）复数，表示风险；（竞赛、冒险行为中的）赌注

【例】The game was usually played for high stakes between two large groups.

这种游戏通常是两大组人为赢得大的赌注而进行的。

【拓展】at stake 处于危险中，在紧要关头

【例】We cannot afford to take risks when peoples' lives are at stake.

现在人命关天，不容我们有闪失。

The Consumer Price Index rose by 7.9 percent through February, the fastest pace of annual inflation in 40 years.

2月份消费者价格指数上升了7.9%，这是40年来年通货膨胀速度最快的一次。

pronounced adj. 显著的；很明显的；表达明确的

（英文释义：very noticeable, obvious or strongly expressed）

【例】She has very pronounced views on art.

她有非常明确的艺术观。

Rising food and rent costs contributed to the big increase, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said, as did a nascent surge in gas prices that will become more pronounced in the March inflation report.

美国劳工统计局表示，食品和租金成本的上涨是通货膨胀的原因之一，汽油价格刚出现的飙升也是其原因之一，而这将在3月份的通胀报告中变得更加明显。

pronounced adj. 显著的；很明显的；表达明确的

（英文释义：very noticeable, obvious or strongly expressed）

【例】She has very pronounced views on art.

她有非常明确的艺术观。

The February report caught only the start of the surge in gas prices that came in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine late last month. Economists expect inflation to pick up even more in March because prices at the pump have since jumped to record-breaking highs.

2月份的报告只是抓住了天然气价格飙升的开始，而天然气价格的飙升是对俄罗斯上个月底入侵乌克兰的回应。经济学家们预计3月份的通货膨胀率将进一步上升，因为汽油的价格已经跳到了破纪录的高点。

in response to 响应；回答；对……有反应

【例】The product was developed in response to customer demand.

这种产品是为了满足顾客的需要而开发的。

The average price for a gallon of gas was $4.32 on Thursday, according to AAA [triple A]. Rapidly climbing costs are hitting consumers in the pocketbook, causing confidence to fall and stretching household budgets.

据美国汽车协会称，周四汽油的平均价格为每加仑4.32美元。快速攀升的成本打击了消费者的钱包，导致信心下降、家庭预算吃紧。

poketbook n. （个人或国家的）财政状况，财力，钱袋子

（英文释义：used to refer to the financial situation of a person or country. (In the past it was a small flat case for carrying papers or money.)

【例】Many foreign goods are too expensive for American pocketbooks.

许多外国货都太贵，与一般美国人的财力不符。

Rising wages and savings amassed during the pandemic have helped many families continue spending despite rising prices, but the burden is falling most intensely on lower-income households, which devote a big chunk of their budgets to daily necessities that are now swiftly becoming more expensive.

工资上涨和在大流行期间积累的储蓄帮助许多家庭在价格上涨的情况下继续消费，但负担最大的是低收入家庭，他们将大部分预算用于购买日常必需品，而这些必需品正迅速变得更加昂贵。

amass v. （尤指大量）积累，积聚

【例】He amassed a fortune from silver mining.

他靠开采银矿积累了一笔财富。

价格暴涨对拜登总统来说是一个挑战，尤其是考虑到11月的中期选举即将到来。在选民感受到了更高开支带来的压力之际，民主党人需要奋力保持对国会的控制。

point a/ the finger at 指责

（英文释义：to accuse or blame (someone)）

【例】He was quick to point a finger at his coworkers.

他很快就开始指责他的同事。

On Thursday, Mr. Biden acknowledged the pain consumers are feeling from rapid inflation but pointed a finger at President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, blaming his invasion of Ukraine for fueling higher gas prices.

周四，拜登承认消费者正感受到快速通货膨胀带来的痛苦，但他将矛头指向了俄罗斯总统弗拉基米尔·普京，指责他对乌克兰的入侵推高了天然气价格。

point a/ the finger at 指责

（英文释义：to accuse or blame (someone)）

【例】He was quick to point a finger at his coworkers.

他很快就开始指责他的同事。

Democrats tweeted about the report on Thursday using the hashtag #PutinPriceHike. "Today’s inflation report is a reminder that Americans' budgets are being stretched by price increases and families are starting to feel the impacts of Putin's price hike," Mr. Biden said in a statement.

周四，民主党人在推特上使用#普京涨价#的标签发布了这份报告。拜登在一份声明中表示，“今天的通胀报告提醒我们，美国人的预算正因价格上涨而吃紧，家庭正开始感受到普京涨价的影响。”

hike n. & v.

1. 作名词

（1）远足，徒步旅行

【例】They went on a ten-mile hike through the forest.

他们做了一次穿越森林的十英里徒步旅行。

（2）（价格、花费等的）大幅度提高，猛增

【搭配】hike in sth ...的大幅上涨

【例】a tax/price hike 税额/价格的大幅度增长

2. 作动词

（1）去…远足；做徒步旅行

【例】If the weather's fine, we'll go hiking this weekend.

如果天气好，我们这个周末就去远足。

（2）把（价格、税率等）大幅提高

【搭配】hike sth up 把...提高

【例】The government hiked up the price of milk by over 40%.

政府把牛奶的价格提高了四成多。

"As I have said from the start, there will be costs at home as we impose crippling sanctions in response to Putin's unprovoked war, but Americans can know this: The costs we are imposing on Putin and his cronies are far more devastating than the costs we are facing."

“正如我从一开始就说过的，当我们对普京无端发动的战争实施严厉制裁时，国内会有代价，但美国人可以知道这一点：我们对普京和他的亲信所施加的代价远比我们所面临的代价更具破坏性。”

crippling adj. 致残的，严重影响健康的；造成严重后果的

【例】a crippling disease 严重损害健康的疾病

crippling debts 导致经济瘫痪的债务

unprovoked adj. 未受挑衅的；无端的

（英文释义：not caused by anything the person being attacked has said or done）

【例】an act of unprovoked aggression 无端的侵犯行为

【拓展】provoke v.

1. 对...挑衅

【搭配】provoke sb (into sth/ into doing sth)

【例】The lawyer claimed his client was provoked into acts of violence by the defendant.

律师声称，他的当事人是受到被告的挑衅才采取暴力行动的。

2. 激起；引起；引发

【例】The article was intended to provoke discussion.

这篇文章旨在引发讨论。

课后练习

The United States is faced with ____.
A. political conflicts with other countries
B. heavy cost of going into a war
C. great risks of rising inflation
D. increasing prices of labor
What is expected to happen in March?
A. Food and rent costs will rise faster than gas prices.
B. Surging gas prices will lead to more severe inflation.
C. Economic policies will be devised in response to inflation.
D. Rising living costs will set off discontent among people.
Which of the following statements is true about American households?
A. They have a tight budget due to a cut in wages.
B. Rising costs have little influence on their savings.
C. Low-income households suffer most from inflation.
D. They have a growing demand for daily necessities.
How did President Biden respond to the rising prices?
A. He promised to propose a solution in the midterm election.
B. He published a report in an effort to maintain voters’ confidence.
C. He urged President Putin to cut gas prices and increase supply.
D. He criticized Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for pushing prices up.
President Biden believed that the sanctions imposed on Russia ____.
A. brought unexpected costs in America
B. failed to prevent Russia’s war on Ukraine
C. were worthwhile despite the negative influences
D. did more harm to Americans than to Putin