WEEKLY KAGOSHIMA on the Web

Correction&reading by Stephen / Jingle by Spring Girls
県内経済３期連続で「悪化」
鹿児島財務事務所は２２日、最近（２００９年１－３月）の県内経済情勢について「悪化している」として、「厳しさがみられる」とした１月の前回から判断を後退させた。下方修正は３期連続。特に個人消費、生産活動、雇用の低迷が影響した。篤姫効果で好調だった県内観光地の宿泊客数も２月に前年割れするなど、厳しくなっている。
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Prefectural economy ‘worsening’ for 3rd straight quarter
According to a report released by the Kagoshima Financial Office on April 22, Kagoshima prefecture’s recent economic situation (January-March, 2009) ‘has been worsening’. This kind of language is a step back from the last report released in January that said ‘showing signs of deterioration’. The prefecture’s economic outlook has seen the downward revision for the third consecutive quarter hardest hit by decline in consumer spending, productive activities and employment. Tourist areas throughout the prefecture, which had seen a boost in the number of visitors thanks to the broadcast of a TV drama that featured locally born Princess Atsuhime, have also been facing a year-on-year decline in the number of guests staying overnight as of February.
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＜コメント＞
“According to a report released by the Kagoshima Financial Office on April 22, Kagoshima prefecture’s recent economic situation (January-March, 2009) ‘has been worsening’.”

‘According to …’ は「・・・によると」。‘released by …’ は「・・・が公表した」。‘recent… situation’ は「最近の経済情勢」。‘has … worsening’ は「悪化している（deteriorating, become worse）」。


“This kind of language is a step back from the last report released in January that said ‘showing signs of deterioration’.”

‘This … language’ は「このような言い回し（phrase, term, diction）」。‘is … report’ は「前回の報告からの後退である」。‘showing. … deterioration’ は「悪化の兆しを見せている」。


“The prefecture’s economic outlook has seen the downward revision for the third consecutive quarter hardest hit by decline in consumer spending, productive activities and employment.”

‘economic outlook’ は「経済の見通し」。‘downward revision’ は「下方修正（⇔upward revision）」。‘for … quarter’ は「三期連続で」。‘quarter’ は「四半期」。‘hardest … by ~’ は「～で最も大きな打撃［痛手］を受ける」。‘consumer spending’ は「一般消費」。‘productive activities’ は「生産活動（day manufacturing, factory activities）」。


“Tourist areas throughout the prefecture, which had seen a boost in the number of visitors thanks to the broadcast of a TV drama that featured locally born Princess Atsuhime, have also been facing a year-on-year decline in the number of guests staying overnight as of February.”

‘which … visitors’ は「観光客が増加していた」。‘thanks to …’ は「・・・のお陰で（owing to, due to, because of）」。‘broadcast … drama’ は「テレビドラマの放映」。‘year-on-year’ は「〈数字・値段などが〉１年前と比較した」。‘staying overnight’ は「一泊する」。‘as of …’ は「・・・時点で、・・・現在で」。


タイトルの “Prefectural economy ‘worsening’ for 3rd straight quarter"　は「県の経済が三期連続で『悪化』」。
みっち（担当講師）


Source ＞＞南日本新聞ホームページ　373news.com
http://www.373news.com/modules/pickup/article.php?storyid=16500

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