🎧 Audio
📖 Script
The latest figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveal that workers in Australia have received a real pay increase over the past year. This means that the amount their wages increased was slightly more than the rate of inflation. When wages grow faster than inflation, people can buy more goods and services with their earnings, which is generally seen as a positive economic sign.
However, not all economists are optimistic about this trend continuing. They warn that this situation might change soon. Inflation, which is the rate at which prices for goods and services rise, is expected to increase in the coming months. At the same time, the growth rate of wages is likely to slow down. If inflation rises faster than wages, the purchasing power of workers will decrease. This means people will be able to buy less with the same amount of money, which can lead to economic challenges.
The relationship between wage growth and inflation is crucial. If wages grow too slowly compared to inflation, it can lead to a decrease in consumer spending. This is because people have less money to spend on non-essential items, which can negatively affect businesses and the overall economy. On the other hand, if wages grow too quickly, it can lead to higher inflation, as businesses might increase prices to cover higher wage costs.
For now, the Australian economy is in a delicate balance. Policymakers will need to carefully monitor both inflation and wage growth to ensure that the economy remains stable. Some strategies to manage this balance include adjusting interest rates and implementing policies that encourage economic growth without causing excessive inflation.
In summary, while the recent wage growth is a positive sign, there are potential risks if inflation outpaces wage increases. Economists and policymakers must work together to maintain economic stability and ensure that the living standards of Australians do not decline.
📝 Vocabulary
- inflation: the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises（インフレーション、物価上昇）
例文: “Inflation can affect the cost of living for many people.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- high inflation
- inflation rate
- inflation pressure
- purchasing power: the ability to buy goods and services（購買力）
例文: “When purchasing power decreases, people buy fewer products.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- strong purchasing power
- purchasing power parity
- real purchasing power
- economist: a person who studies the economy（経済学者）
例文: “Economists analyze data to predict future economic trends.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- leading economist
- well-known economist
- economist report
- wage: payment for work, usually on a weekly or monthly basis（賃金）
例文: “Many workers are hoping for a wage increase this year.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- minimum wage
- wage increase
- wage growth
- strategy: a plan of action to achieve a goal（戦略）
例文: “The company developed a new marketing strategy.”
Collocations／日本語の意味を見る
- effective strategy
- business strategy
- strategy plan
✏️ Grammar Point
Conditional Sentences (Type 1) – “If inflation rises faster than wages, the purchasing power of workers will decrease.”
文法の日本語補足を見る
💡 使用場面
条件が満たされれば結果が生じる未来の状況を説明する際に使われます。
📝 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
- True/False: The recent wage growth in Australia is higher than inflation.
- MCQ: What do economists warn about the future economic situation?
a) Wages will continue to grow rapidly.
b) Inflation will decrease significantly.
c) Inflation may increase faster than wage growth.
d) The economy will remain unchanged. - MCQ: What is the relationship between wage growth and inflation?
a) Wage growth always leads to inflation.
b) Inflation helps increase wages.
c) Wage growth and inflation are unrelated.
d) Wage growth should ideally match or exceed inflation.
🔑 Listening Answersを見る
- True
- c) Inflation may increase faster than wage growth.
- d) Wage growth should ideally match or exceed inflation.
📚 Reading Questions
- What recent trend has been observed in Australian wage growth?
- Why do economists express concern about the future economic situation?
- What does the word “purchasing power” mean in the context of the script?
🔑 Reading Answersを見る
- Workers in Australia have received a real pay increase over the past year.
- Economists are concerned because inflation might rise faster than wage growth, reducing purchasing power.
- The ability to buy goods and services.
🇯🇵 日本語での経済ニュース解説
オーストラリア統計局（ABS）の最新データによると、過去1年間でオーストラリアの労働者は実質的な賃金増加を受けました。これは賃金の増加率がインフレ率をわずかに上回ったことを意味します。しかし、経済学者たちは、このトレンドが今後変わる可能性があると警告しています。予想されるインフレの上昇と賃金成長の鈍化が、労働者の購買力を低下させる可能性があります。このような経済状況の変化は、消費支出やビジネスに影響を及ぼし、経済全体のバランスを崩す可能性があります。政策立案者は、経済の安定を維持するために、インフレと賃金成長を注意深く監視する必要があります。
