日本經濟連續兩個季度衰退
TOKYO — The Japanese economy deteriorated more severely than expected in the third quarter, according to government data released on Monday, extending a downturn into a second consecutive three-month period and putting the country in technical recession.
東京——日本政府週一公佈的數據顯示，日本經濟在第三季度嚴重惡化，程度超過預期，致使日本經濟連續兩個季度衰退，陷入技術性衰退。
In a preliminary estimate, the Cabinet Office said output declined by an annualized 0.8 percent. Economists surveyed by news agencies had expected a contraction of 0.3 percent, on average.
內閣府表示，根據初步估算，日本經濟產出按年率計算萎縮了0.8%。新聞機構調查的經濟學家曾預計會出現平均0.3%的收縮。
Worsening business confidence appeared to have contributed to the fall. Companies reduced investment in the quarter and drew down on inventories rather than increasing production, the data showed.
商業信心的減弱似乎在一定程度上導致經濟出現衰退。數據顯示，各個公司在本季度縮減投資，減少庫存，而不是增加產量。
With its work force shrinking, Japan grows more slowly than other countries at the best of times. Small setbacks can easily send it into reverse. The latest recession was its fifth since the global financial crisis of 2008, though by some measures, including unemployment, the picture looks much less dire.
隨着勞動力的減少，日本經濟即便在最好的情況下，增長速度也低於其他國家。小挫折很容易導致經濟出現倒退。這是自2008年金融危機以來日本經濟的第五次衰退，但從失業率等標準來看，前景看起來沒那麼可怕。
The recession could nonetheless intensify skepticism about Japanese economic policy. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe gained office three years ago on a pledge to reset Japan’s growth trajectory. So far, his “Abenomics” program, centered on aggressive stimulus by the central bank, has struggled to reach its ambitious goals for lifting incomes, spending and investment.
儘管如此，這種衰退景象可能會加劇人們對日本經濟政策的懷疑。日本首相安倍晉三(Shinzo Abe)三年前憑藉重置日本經濟增長軌跡的承諾贏得選舉。迄今爲止，他採取的以央行積極刺激舉措爲中心的“安倍經濟學”政策，難以實現其雄心勃勃的目標——提高收入、開支和投資。
