或许你不该来

U.S.A

Economists say the decline, which could be foreshadowed in a widely followed government price index to be released this week, will probably be modest — from 1 percent to 2 percent — but could continue in 2008 and 2009. Rather than being limited to the once-booming Northeast and California, price declines are also occurring in cities like Chicago, Minneapolis and Houston, where the increases of the last decade were modest by comparison.

U.S.A

The reversal is particularly striking because many government officials and housing-industry executives had said that a nationwide decline would never happen, even though prices had fallen in some coastal areas as recently as the early 1990s.

Helle

Continue pls.

U.S.A

While the housing slump has already rattled financial markets, it has so far had only a modest effect on consumer spending and economic growth. But forecasters now believe that its impact will lead to a slowdown over the next year or two.

“For most people, this is not a disaster,” said Nigel Gault, an economist with Global Insight, a research firm in Waltham, Mass. “But it’s enough to cause them to pull back.”

Helle

For most people, this is not a disaster。But it’s enough to cause them to pull back.

What is the meaning of "pull back"?

U.S.A

use less money than before.

Helle

Thanks a lot! why is a "but"used ?
[本帖由Helle修改于2007-08-27 11:00:23]

esmile

引用作者 Helle 于 2007-8-27发表的原文
Thanks a lot! why is a "but"used ?
[本帖由Helle修改于2007-08-27 11:00:23]

虽说不是灾难，但也该紧缩开支了。

Helle

引用作者 esmile 于 2007-8-27发表的原文
[quote]引用作者 Helle 于 2007-8-27发表的原文
Thanks a lot! why is a "but"used ?
[本帖由Helle修改于2007-08-27 11:00:23]

虽说不是灾难，但也该紧缩开支了。[/quote]
[M20] [M29]

U.S.A

because ""rattled financial markets" ,

Helle

嗯，继续努力

猛龙过江

大家吃饭没有啊？？？

U.S.A

In recent years, many families used their homes as a kind of piggy bank, borrowing against their equity and increasing their spending more rapidly than their income was rising. A recent research paper co-written by the vice chairman of the Federal Reserve said that the rise in home prices was the primary reason that consumer borrowing has soared since 2001.

U.S.A

Now, however, that financial cushion is disappearing for many families. “We are having to start from scratch and rebuild for a down payment,” said Kenneth Schauf, who expects to lose money on a condominium in Chicago he and his wife bought in 2004 and have been trying to sell since last summer. “We figured that a home is the place to build your wealth, and now it’s going on three years and we are back to square one.”

Helle

收市了