VOA慢速英语 Jobs and the Slow Road to Economic Recovery

　　Jobs and the Slow Road to Economic Recovery

　　This is the VOA Special English Economics Report.

　　The National Association for Business Economics has its latest predictions for the American economy. Most of the forty-five business economists questioned said they expect the recession to end in the second half of the year. But they also expect a slower-than-usual recovery.

　　Still, there were more signs this week that Americans are feeling better about the economy. The Conference Board said its consumer confidence index had its biggest jump in six years in May.

　　The National Association of Realtors reported that sales of existing homes rose about three percent from March to April. The Commerce Department said sales of new single-family houses also rose -- but just by three-tenths of one percent.

　　The Federal Housing Finance Agency said home prices fell seven percent in the first three months of the year. But that was less than they fell at the end of two thousand eight compared to a year earlier.

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