983.经济学人-Terminal velocity-5

The result, according to Flexport, is that a record number of seaborne journeys have been cancelled in recent months, container-freight rates have plunged back to pre-pandemic levels, and shipowners have gone from feast to famine.

Maersk, the world’s second-largest container carrier, named a new CEO on December 12th to steer it through an “increasingly challenging” period. Its share price has tumbled since March.

This relaxation of supply-chain pressure may help explain why goods-price inflation is easing.

However, goods account for only a third of consumer spending; services account for two-thirds.

Moreover, as Mr Clark points out, a shortage of personnel, such as dockers, truckers and warehouse workers, means the cost of labour in the supply chain remains high.

“Labour costs inside the us haven’t budged,” he says. “Most of the job reductions are white-collar, not front-line workers.”

For these reasons, he is not convinced the inflationary threat is over.

这是《经济学人》2022年12月刊的一篇文章“Terminal velocity”第6、7段，共7句。

1

seaborne：海运的

famine：饥荒

根据Flexport所述，结果就是在最近几个月破纪录的货运行程数量被取消，集装箱运费暴跌至疫情前的水平，船老板从富裕到饥荒。

2

steer：控制

世界第二大的集装箱运输公司Maersk，在12月12日指定了新上任的经理来掌舵公司，度过“越来越有挑战性”的时期。自三月以来，股价已经大跌。

3

供应链释压可能有助于解释为什么商品价格通胀正在缓解。

4

然而，商品仅占消费者支出的三分之一；服务业占三分之二。

5

此外，正如克拉克先生所指出的，码头工人、卡车司机和仓库工人等人员的短缺意味着供应链中的劳动力成本仍然很高。

6

“美国国内的劳动力成本没有变化，”他说。“大部分裁员是白领，而不是一线工人。”

7

出于这些原因，他不相信通胀威胁已经结束。

-总结-

词汇

seaborne：海运的

famine：饥荒

steer：控制