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Jobb Posted 22 years ago
Grammar
Softness and weakness
Context:
WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan Tuesday called economic conditions generally "quite favorable" and said recent softness in consumer spending is likely to be short-lived, allowing the Fed to raise interest rates gradually as the economy improves.
...
"Inflation also seems to have been boosted by transitory factors such as the surge in energy prices," Greenspan told the Senate Banking Committee. "Those higher prices, by eroding households' disposable income, have accounted for at least some softness in consumer spending of late, a softness which should prove short-lived."
Question:
(1) I think "softness" is different to "weakness". But what does it mean here?
(2) "...have accounted for at least some softness in consumer spending of late"
Does "account for" mean the same below? --
The cost of the car accounted for 30% of our total income this year.
WASHINGTON — Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan Tuesday called economic conditions generally "quite favorable" and said recent softness in consumer spending is likely to be short-lived, allowing the Fed to raise interest rates gradually as the economy improves.
...
"Inflation also seems to have been boosted by transitory factors such as the surge in energy prices," Greenspan told the Senate Banking Committee. "Those higher prices, by eroding households' disposable income, have accounted for at least some softness in consumer spending of late, a softness which should prove short-lived."
Question:
(1) I think "softness" is different to "weakness". But what does it mean here?
(2) "...have accounted for at least some softness in consumer spending of late"
Does "account for" mean the same below? --
The cost of the car accounted for 30% of our total income this year.
Top answer
1) Softness does indeed mean weakness here. Consumer spending in the US has recently weakened/softened. 2) I wouldn't completely agree with your answer.
- 1) Softness does indeed mean weakness here.
- Consumer spending in the US has recently weakened/softened.
- 2) I wouldn't completely agree with your answer.
- Those higher prices, by eroding households' disposable income, have accounted for at least some softness in consumer spending of late, a softness which should prove short-lived.
- You could rewrite that sentence as....
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2 Answers
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1) Softness does indeed mean weakness here. Consumer spending in the US has recently weakened/softened.
2) I wouldn't completely agree with your answer.
You could rewrit
2) I wouldn't completely agree with your answer.
Those higher prices, by eroding households' disposable income, have accounted for at least some softness in consumer spending of late, a softness which should prove short-lived.
You could rewrit
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