文字稿

英國國家統計署2017年最新發布的報告顯示，成衣、酒店住宿、汽車燃料價格的增加，導致了消費者物價指數的上升。英國的通貨膨脹率也因為交通費和食品價格的上漲，而達到五年來的最高水平。不過，通脹率上升不完全是因為去年英鎊匯價下跌。請聽報道。 

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.

詞匯表

inflation 通貨膨脹
pensions 養老金，退休金
peak 達到頂峰，達到最大值
intensify 加劇
squeeze 減少，減縮
living standards 生活水平
pronounced 明顯的，明確的
pay cap 工資（上漲）限制
frozen 凍結的
attributable 歸因于…的，由于…的
sterling 英國貨幣，英鎊

測驗

請聽報道并回答下列問題。

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.