A Ford dealer advertises the government's so called "cash for clunkers" program to lift salesThe American car industry also had big problems in two thousand nine. Chrysler and General Motors sought bankruptcy protection from their creditors. The restructured companies may still need government aid, which has already reached over sixty billion dollars. But a government program that paid Americans to trade in old vehicles for new, fuel-saving models increased car sales in the summer.
The Ford Motor Company refused government aid and is working to become profitable again by two thousand eleven. And there are signs that the industry is starting to recover.
However, the housing market continued to suffer its worst downturn in generations. Mortgage financer Fannie Mae reports that payments on five percent of its single-family home loans are late. The ten percent unemployment rate has meant that many people are struggling with their house payments.
Still, consumer confidence grew in December. Experts say Americans were feeling better about the job market and the economy. Growth in the United States is expected to reach about two and a half percent in two thousand ten.
And that's the VOA Special English Economics Report, written by Mario Ritter. I'm Steve Ember.
最新
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25
2013-11-25