文字稿

英国国家统计署2017年最新发布的报告显示，成衣、酒店住宿、汽车燃料价格的增加，导致了消费者物价指数的上升。英国的通货膨胀率也因为交通费和食品价格的上涨，而达到五年来的最高水平。不过，通胀率上升不完全是因为去年英镑汇价下跌。请听报道。

The September inflation figure is used to calculate the annual increase in state pensions and 3% is thought likely to be the rate at which price rises will peak or very close to it.

For people in work, however, faster price rises intensify the squeeze on living standards as average pay is increasing more slowly. The squeeze is even more pronounced in most of the public sector where there's a pay cap of 1%, and for people dependent on working-age benefits which are mainly frozen.

The increasing inflation is largely due to the impact of food prices, computer games and the cost of transport. The Office for National Statistics does not say how much of the increase may be attributable to last year's fall in the value of the pound, but it does note that cheaper sterling tends to raise the cost of imported goods.

词汇表

inflation 通货膨胀
pensions 养老金，退休金
peak 达到顶峰，达到最大值
intensify 加剧
squeeze 减少，减缩
living standards 生活水平
pronounced 明显的，明确的
pay cap 工资（上涨）限制
frozen 冻结的
attributable 归因于…的，由于…的
sterling 英国货币，英镑

测验

请听报道并回答下列问题。

1. What is the September inflation figure used for?

2. True or false: For people in work, faster price rises weaken the squeeze on living standards.

3. What are the main causes of inflation?

4. True or false: Cheaper sterling tends to raise the expense of imported goods.

答案

1. What is the September inflation figure used for?
The September inflation figure is used to calculate the annual increase in state pensions.

2. True or false: For people in work, faster price rises weaken the squeeze on living standards.
False. According to the article, for people in work, faster price rises intensify the squeeze on living standards, as average pay is increasing more slowly.

3. What are the main causes of inflation?
The increasing inflation is largely due to the impact of food prices, computer games and the cost of transport.

4. True or false: Cheaper sterling tends to raise the expense of imported goods.
True. According to the article, cheaper sterling tends to raise the cost of imported goods.