[翻譯例子] Jay Powell seeks to allay recession fears 美聯儲主席望緩解應經濟衰退帶來的擔憂

Jay Powell sought to alleviate fears about an impending recession even as he warned that further surprises on inflation could be in store.

美國聯邦儲備委員會主席傑羅姆·鮑威爾希望減輕人們對即將到來的經濟衰退的憂慮，同時亦警告表示通脹情況可能進一步惡化。

In testimony to the Senate banking committee on Wednesday, the US Federal Reserve chair said the economy could handle significantly tighter monetary policy, as he stressed the central bank’s commitment to root out the highest inflation in four decades.

美國聯邦儲備委員會主席與星期三參議員金融委員會上發表證詞，表示美國經濟可應對大幅度收緊的貨幣政策，重申中央銀行竭力根除這場40年以來最嚴重的通脹。

But concerns about a possible recession have grown more pronounced in recent weeks as inflation data have come in worse than expected.

但在最近幾週，隨著通脹數據比預期情況惡劣，人們越來越擔心或會出現經濟衰退。

“The American economy is very strong and well-positioned to handle tighter monetary policy,” Powell said in prepared remarks highlighting the resilience of the US consumer and the labour market, where employment has grown on average by roughly 400,000 a month.

鮑威爾在預先撰寫好的發言稿中強調美國消費者和勞動市場的韌性，表示美國經濟非常強勁，而且地位鞏固，能應付更緊縮的貨幣政策。最近，美國勞動市場平均每個月增加40萬就業人數。

But he underscored uncertainty affecting the outlook, moving beyond past comments acknowledging the path to achieving a “soft landing” has become more challenging.

“Inflation has obviously surprised to the upside over the past year, and further surprises could be in store,” he warned.

而他亦在發言期間指出一些會影響經濟前景的不確定因素，一改他先前發表的意見，改為表示要實現「經濟軟著陸」已變得越加困難。他警告：「近幾年的通脹水平讓人大感意外，而且還可能有更多意料之外的情況出現。」

“We therefore will need to be nimble in responding to incoming data and the evolving outlook, and we will strive to avoid adding uncertainty in what is already an extraordinarily challenging and uncertain time.”

「因此，我們需要迅速回應新發佈的數據和瞬息萬變的前景，致力避免在本已極具挑戰和不確定性的時期再增不確定性。」

The central bank last week implemented the biggest interest rate increase since 1994, lifting the federal funds rate to a new target range of 1.50 to 1.75 per cent, and signalling its support for what is poised to be the most aggressive campaign to tighten monetary policy since the 1980s.

上星期，中央銀行加息，加息幅度為至1994年來最大，將聯邦基金利率上調至百分之1.50至1.70的目標區間。這個決定是一大信號，表示對可能是至1980年代起最激進的貨幣緊縮政策行動的支持。