Unfortunately，both developments were probably short-lived. Oil imports likely rose thanks to rising prices，and many economists think a months-long trend of weaker demand for U.S. exports will reassert itself. Recovery in other corners of the globe is expected to lag behind the U.S.
The first step of that process seems to be happening—U.S. consumers are more cautious—but it is unclear who will take up their slack.
China is the hope of many economists—particularly now，as it is blessed with a 585 billion fiscal stimulus package that is among the world’s largest. Already U.S. companies such as Caterpillar and General Motors say they are benefiting from stronger Chinese spending. However，The impact of this demand remains to be seen.
国际贸易数据显示，世界上是否有人能取代美国消费者成为全球经济增长的引擎。
美国统计局预定星期二（5月12日）发布了三月的贸易数据。经济学家们普遍认为美国面临又一个贸易赤字记录，贸易逆差将从二月份惊人的260亿美元这个十年最低点扩大到297亿美元。
因为进口会从国内生产总值中减去，而出口要加到其中。所以，以减少进口增加出口形成较小的贸易赤字是有利于经济的。
二月份的贸易赤字相对减少，还不到2008年10月贸易赤字的一半，很大程度上是因为石油进口量下降和出口的意外猛增。
遗憾的是，这两个事态的发展可能是昙花一现。石油进口量可能由于价格上涨而增加，许多经济学家认为持续数月疲软的需求将使美国的出口难以支撑。全球其他地方的经济复苏预计将落后于美国。
改变的第一步似乎将要发生，美国消费者越来越谨慎，可还不清楚谁将担负起他们的颓势。
中国是许多经济学家的希望，尤其是现在。中国得天独厚地开出5850亿美元的财政刺激政策，这在世界各国中是最多的。诸如卡特彼勒和通用汽车等美国公司称他们正受益于中国日益庞大的支出。然而，这一需求的影响力仍然有待观察。
核心单词
deficit [5defisit] n. 不足额；赤字
gap [^Ap] n.豁口，裂口
surge [sE:dV] n.高涨，澎湃
bemoan [bi5mEun] v. 悲悼；叹息
caution [5kC:FEn] n. 小心，谨慎
nowhere [5nEuhwZE] adv. 毫无结果；毫不顶用
财经知识一点通
疲软市场(soft market)
指供给需求过度有限的市场。在市场疲软过程中，证券市场行情走低、交易清淡，买卖报价差距很大，任何卖出都可能导致价格下跌。
财政政策(Fiscal policy)
是指国家根据一定时期政治、经济、社会发展的任务所规定的财政工作的指导原则，通过财政支出与税收政策来调节总需求。增加政府支出，可以刺激总需求，从而增加国民收入，反之则压抑总需求，减少国民收入。
翻译行不行
International trade data could show whether anybody else in the world is ready to replace the U.S. consumer as a global growth engine.
Unfortunately，both developments were probably short-lived.
Recovery in other corners of the globe is expected to lag behind the U.S..
第一章 Jump-starting The Green Car Market
中国环保汽车市场蓄势待发
When BYD Auto launches one of China’s first mass produced fully electric sedans later this year，it will be trying to conquer the world rather than save it. But such is the explosive growth of China’s car market and thirst for petrol that the two goals are likely to become ever more synonymous.
Senior government leaders have initiated a major push for hybrid and electric vehicles in a bid to bypass car makers overseas and avoid an environmental meltdown at home.
The consultancy McKinsey and Company estimates that China’s car market will grow tenfold between 2005 and 2030，which will drive up demand for diesel and petrol from 110 million tonnes to 500 million tonnes. That will mean a sharp rise in carbon emissions from a country that has already overtaken the United States as the world’s biggest source of greenhouse gases.
Hybrid，electric and fuel-cell vehicles could ease the burden，but they will not solve the problem because at the moment more than 70% of China’s electricity is powered by coal，the dirtiest of all fossil fuels. Even if there is a large-scale take-up of the new technologies，which could cut emissions by 19%.McKinsey estimates that the combined emissions from road transport would still increase more than fourfold within the next two decades.
Faced by this nightmare，the Chinese authorities recently announced plans for 50，000-yuan rebates for electric and hybrid cars，encouraged city taxi fleets to buy vehicles with the new technology，and prompted state and regional grids to set up charging stations.
BYD is likely to be a major beneficiary. The initials stand for Build Your Dreams，which prompted snickers when the company debuted in US car shows last year，as did the soaring ambitions of the founder Wang Chuanfu，who has stated that BYD will be the biggest carmaker in China by 2015 and the biggest in the world by 2025.
Despite it making a third of the world’s mobile phone batteries，until recently few people outside of China had heard of BYD. But the company exploded into the international consciousness late last year by beating Toyota and General Motors to launch the world’s first mass-produced plug-in hybrid.
There are also many questions about the environmental benefits of electric cars，given China’s reliance on coal. Electric vehicles drive down carbon emissions best if they are charged at night with wind or other forms of renewable energy，but this is not currently possible in the country.
