數百萬人失業
The US economy suffered its sharpest downturn since the Great Depression in the second quarter, as the coronavirus pandemic has shattered businesses across the country and left millions of Americans out of work.
美國第二季經濟遭受經濟大蕭條以來最嚴重的衰退，新冠肺炎疫情重創全國企業，造成數百萬美國人失業。
suffer(v.)受苦;受折磨;經歷;遭受(壞事)downturn(n.)衰退;低迷the Great Depression經濟大蕭條shatter(v.)粉碎;嚴重破壞=ravage
Gross domestic product last quarter plunged 32.9% on an annualized basis, the deepest decline in output dating back to 1947.
上一季GDP折合成年率大幅下降32.9％，是1947年以來最大的產出降幅。
annualized按年計算的on an annualized basis 年率date back to回溯到
The drop in GDP was more than triple the previous record decline of 10% in the second quarter of 1958.
第二季GDP下滑是1958年第二季創紀錄10％跌幅的三倍多。
Consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of GDP, fell 34.6%, also the most on record.
佔GDP約三分之二的消費者支出下降34.6％，也是有記錄以來的最大降幅。
account for佔…比例
Business ground to a halt during the pandemic lockdown designed to control the spread of COVID-19 earlier this year, and the economy fell into its first recession in 11 years, ending the longest-ever economic expansion in US history.
今年稍早，為了控制新冠肺炎的傳播，實施封城期間，商業逐漸陷入停頓，經濟陷入11年來首度衰退，結束了美國史上最長的經濟擴張期。
grind to a halt 慢慢停下來;逐漸陷入停頓grind-ground-ground
A recession is typically defined as two consecutive quarters of declining GDP. The economy contracted at a 5% rate in the first quarter.
經濟衰退通常定義為GDP連續兩季下降。第一季經濟萎縮5％。
consecutive(adj.)連續的;無間斷的contract(v.)萎縮;縮小、罹患(疾病) 、感染
The nation’s steepest-ever recession is also expected to be the shortest, with economic activity picking up again in May and June as states began allowing businesses to reopen in phases.
預計美國有史以來最嚴重的經濟衰退也將是最短的，隨著各州開始允許企業分階段重新營業，經濟活動在5月和6月再度回升。
steep(adj.)陡峭的;急劇的;大起大落的pick up增加;改進in phases分階段
Economists surveyed by Bloomberg estimate that the economy will grow at an 18% annualized rate in the third quarter. While that is a record positive jump, it would still leave GDP far below pre-pandemic levels.
彭博調查的經濟學家估計，美國第三季經濟折合成年率將成長18％。儘管成長跳升幅度創紀錄，但GDP仍遠低於疫情前的水準。
survey(v.)調查(n.)(民意)調查conduct a survey進行調查
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell acknowledged the slowdown in activity. The central bank kept interest rates near zero and pledged to continue pumping money into the banking system.
聯儲會主席鮑爾坦言經濟活動放緩。美國央行把利率維持在接近於零的水準，並承諾繼續向銀行體系注入資金。
acknowledge(v.)承認;坦承;坦言pledge to RV承諾;保證pump something into something投入(大量資金)
The Trump administration shrugged off the GDP slump, saying the economy was “rebounding.”
川普政府對GDP大幅下滑不以為意，稱經濟正在 「反彈」。
shrug off對…滿不在乎；對…不予理睬slump(n.)大幅下降rebound(v.)反彈