Personal consumption in the United States expanded at only a 1.5% annual rate in real (inflation-adjusted) terms in the second quarter of 2012 – and that was no aberration. Unfortunately, it continues a pattern of weakness that has been evident since early 2008.
纽黑文——美国消费者现在只剩下以前无所不能的影子。2012年第二季度美国个人消费经通胀调整后的实际年增长率仅为1.5%——而且这还算不上什么失常表现。不幸的是，这不过是2008年初以来日趋明显的疲软格局的延续。