Can Chinese Consumers Replace America's
中国消费者与美国消费者的“较量”
International trade data could show whether anybody else in the world is ready to replace the U.S. consumer as a global growth engine.
国际贸易数据显示，世界上是否有人能取代美国消费者成为全球经济增长的引擎。
The Census Bureau is due to release March trade data on Tuesday. Economists, on average, think the U.S. recorded yet another trade deficit and that the gap widened to $29.7 billion from a surprising 1O-year low of $26 billion in February.
美国统计局预定星期二（5月12日）发布了三月的贸易数据。经济学家们普遍认为美国面临又一个贸易赤字记录，贸易逆差将从二月份惊人的260亿美元这个十年最低点扩大到297亿美元。
Since imports subtract from gross domestic product and exports add to it, a smaller trade gap-fewer imports and more exports-is generally good for the economy.
因为进口会从国内生产总值中减去，而出口要加到其中。所以，以减少进口增加出口形成较小的贸易赤字是有利于经济的。
February's relatively skinny deficit-which was less than half the size of the gap in October 2008-was driven partly by falling oil imports and an unexpected surge in exports.
二月份的贸易赤字相对减少，还不到2008年10月贸易赤字的一半，很大程度上是因为石油进口量下降和出口的意外猛增。
Unfortunately, both developments were probably short-lived. Oil imports likely rose thanks to rising prices, and many economists think a months-long trend of weaker demand for U.S exports will reassert itself. Recovery in other corners of the globe is expected to lag behind the U.S.
遗憾的是，这两个事态的发展可能是罢花一现。石油进口量可能由于价格上涨而增加，许多经济学家认为持续数月疲软的需求将使美国的出口难以支撑。全球其他地方的经济复苏预计将落后于美国。
The first step of that process seems to be happening-U.S. consumers are more cautious----but it is unclear who will take up their slack.
改变的第一步似乎将要发生，美国消费者越来越谨慎，可还不清楚谁将担负起他们的颓势。
China is the hope of many economists-particularly now, as it is blessed with a $585 billion fiscal stimulus package that is among the world's largest. Already U.S. companies such as Caterpillar and General Motors say they are benefiting from stronger Chinese spending. However, The impact of this demand remains to be seen.
中国是许多经济学家的希望，尤其是现在。中国得天独厚地开出 5850亿美元的财政剌激政策，这在世界各国中是最多的。诸如卡特彼勒和通用汽车等美国公司称他们正受益于中国日益庞大的支出。然而，这一需求的影响力仍然有待观察。