Price hikes affect consumer confidence index

时间：2007-08-07 03:24:02

（单词翻译:单击）

Chinanews, Shanghai, Aug 6 – Information from the National Statistics Bureau (NSB) shows that in last June, consumer confidence index reached 97.5 points, hitting a record high in past 18 months. Early in last July, related information released showed that the consumer confidence index for the second quarter of this year reached 96.8 points. The consumer confidence index in last July rose by 1.0 point compared with that of the first quarter and 2.8 points compared with the same period last year. This might indicate that the new round of price hikes has not affected1 consumer confidence index, the Shanghai Securities Journal reported.

 

However, information from NSB's Shanghai Investigation2 Team shows that during the second quarter of this year, consumer confidence index, an index that reflects consumers' assessment3 of the current economic situation and economic prospect4 in the future, reached 109.3 points, 3.4 points lower than the previous quarter. This shows that consumers in Shanghai were optimistic about the overall economic development and prospect in Shanghai, although their confidence in the economy had declined a little bit.

 

Since the beginning of this year, the price of consumption goods, especially the price of meat, has kept rising. This has affected consumers' optimism about their economic life in future. It is therefore within the expectation that consumer confidence index will fall, NSB's Shanghai Investigation Team said.

 

Among the figures publicized, consumer confidence indexes for the life quality and durable5 goods declined the most, while consumer confidence indexes for employment situation, the overall economy, and family income declined the least. The investigation shows that in the second quarter, 82.1% of the respondents thought that current commodity prices were relatively6 high, 20.2 percentage points more than the first quarter. Among them, 21.1% thought commodity price was “intolerably high,” an increase of 10.5 percentage points. 63.9% of the respondents thought commodity price would continue to rise in future, an increase of 7.4 percentage points. This shows that at least in Shanghai, the price hikes of commodity goods have already caused a great negative effect on consumers’ confidence.

 
分享到：


点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 affected TzUzg0     
adj.不自然的，假装的
参考例句：
  • She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
  • His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。
2 investigation MRKzq     
n.调查，调查研究
参考例句：
  • In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
  • He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
3 assessment vO7yu     
n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额
参考例句：
  • This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
  • What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？
4 prospect P01zn     
n.前景，前途；景色，视野
参考例句：
  • This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
  • The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。
5 durable frox4     
adj.持久的，耐久的
参考例句：
  • This raincoat is made of very durable material.这件雨衣是用非常耐用的料子做的。
  • They frequently require more major durable purchases.他们经常需要购买耐用消费品。
6 relatively bkqzS3     
adv.比较...地，相对地
参考例句：
  • The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
  • The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

©2005-2010英文阅读网