英語学習

英語ニュース教材：Inflation climbs in August as grocery and gas prices jump（Intermediate レベル）

 

Contents

🎧 Audio

📖 Script

In August, inflation increased again, which means the general price of goods and services went up. This change is mostly because Americans had to pay more for gasoline and groceries. Over the past year, consumer prices have risen by 2.9%. This means that the cost of living has become higher for many people.

Gasoline prices are particularly important because they affect almost every part of the economy. When gas prices go up, it costs more to transport goods, which can lead to higher prices for everything from food to clothes. Additionally, many people drive to work or school, so they have to spend more money just to keep their daily routines.

Grocery prices also saw a significant increase. This is a big concern for families because everyone needs to buy food. If groceries are more expensive, people have less money to spend on other things, such as entertainment or saving for the future.

The Federal Reserve, which is the central bank of the United States, watches inflation closely. They try to keep inflation at a stable rate, usually around 2%, to ensure the economy remains healthy. When inflation goes too high, the Federal Reserve might increase interest rates to make borrowing money more expensive. This helps slow down spending and can lower inflation, but it also means people might pay more for loans and mortgages.

Economists and policymakers are watching the situation carefully. They are considering what actions to take to help manage inflation and support the economy. It’s a delicate balance because they want to control prices without harming economic growth.

📝 Vocabulary

  • inflation: a general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money（インフレーション）
    例文: “Inflation can make everyday items more expensive.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • high inflation
    • inflation rate
    • control inflation
  • consumer: a person who purchases goods and services（消費者）
    例文: “Consumers are worried about rising prices.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • consumer demand
    • consumer goods
    • consumer price
  • impact: the effect or influence of one thing on another（影響）
    例文: “The new law will have a big impact on the economy.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • economic impact
    • significant impact
    • positive impact
  • significant: large enough to be noticed or have an effect（重要な、顕著な）
    例文: “There was a significant increase in sales last year.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • significant change
    • significant difference
    • significant role
  • economy: the wealth and resources of a region, especially in terms of production and consumption（経済）
    例文: “The economy is growing slowly this year.”
    Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
    • global economy
    • strong economy
    • economy growth

✏️ Grammar Point

Second Conditional – “If groceries are more expensive, people have less money to spend on other things.”

文法の日本語補足を見る
仮定法過去を使って、現実とは異なる仮定の状況を表す

💡 使用場面

仮定の状況を述べる際に使います。ビジネスでも、経済的な予測や計画を立てる際に活用できます。

📝 使用例文

“例: In a business meeting, you might say: ‘If we cut costs now, we can increase our profit margin next quarter.’”

❓ Listening Questions

  1. True/False: Inflation decreased in August.
  2. MCQ: What items’ prices increased significantly in August?
    a) Electronics and clothing
    b) Gasoline and groceries
    c) Housing and education
    d) Travel and entertainment
  3. MCQ: What might the Federal Reserve do if inflation becomes too high?
    a) Lower taxes
    b) Increase interest rates
    c) Decrease government spending
    d) Introduce new currency
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
  1. False
  2. b) Gasoline and groceries
  3. b) Increase interest rates

📚 Reading Questions

  1. What was the percentage increase in consumer prices over the last 12 months?
  2. Why is the Federal Reserve concerned about inflation?
  3. What does “significant increase” mean in the context of grocery prices?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
  1. 2.9%
  2. Because inflation can affect economic stability and purchasing power.
  3. Notable or important increase

🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説

8月のインフレーションは再び上昇し、特にガソリンと食料品の価格が大幅に上昇しました。この1年間で消費者価格は2.9%上昇しています。ガソリン価格の上昇は輸送コストを押し上げ、食品から衣類に至るまでさまざまな商品の価格に影響を与えます。これは家計に大きな負担をかけ、消費者の購買力を低下させます。アメリカ連邦準備制度理事会は、インフレーションを安定的に保つために金利引き上げを検討する可能性があります。これにより借入コストが増加し、消費が抑制されますが、経済成長を阻害しないように慎重な調整が求められます。日本の経済にも影響を与える可能性があり、国際的な市場動向を注視する必要があります。

Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/09/11/nx-s1-5537074/inflation-economy-grocery-gas-federal-reserve

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