双语阅读-日本地震对全球消费者意味着什么.docx

What Japan Shortages Mean for Consumers日本地震对全球消费者意味着什么As Northern Japan begins rebuilding, auto and electronics companies around the world are only starting to figure out how the radical disruption will affect inventories. And while the situation is still in flux, one thing seems clear: Consumers will pay higher prices for Japanese goods if they can buy them at all.当日本北部开始灾后重建时，全球的汽车和电子厂商才刚开始明白，产能的严重中断会对存货造成何种影响。尽管形势变化不定，但有一点似乎是清楚的：消费者会为日本商品支付高价，但前提是他们要能买到才行。Even factories that arent repairing direct damage from the earthquake or tsunami are struggling with intermittent power, transportation difficulties and shortages of parts and workers. All of Toyotas 12 assembly plants will stay closed through at least the end of this week; Honda said it expects to resume production on Sunday at the earliest. Four of Sonys 15 affected plants are functioning, but the company said Tuesday that parts shortages would cut output until the end of the month. Camera-makers Nikon and Canon have also announced slowdowns in output.就连那些并未在修复地震或海啸带来的直接损害的工厂也在同间歇性停电、运输困难以及零部件和工人短缺等问题作斗争。丰田（Toyota）旗下全部12个组装工厂全部停工，且至少会持续到本周末；本田（Honda）说，预计最早要到周日才能恢复生产。索尼（Sony）15个受影响的工厂中只有四个正在运营，但 该公司周二说，零部件短缺导致减产的状况会持续到本月底。尼康（Nikon）和佳能（Canon）两家相机制造商也宣布产出速度会降低。Analysts say even this short stall will mean consumers can expect product shortages of Japanese electronics and automobiles as early as next month. But how long problems might last, and the broader impact, are harder to gauge. Its so chaotic there, and we cant be sure how much of a supply disruption there will be, says Richard Ebeling, a professor of economics at Northwood University in Midland, Mich.分析师说，即便这种短暂的停顿也意味着消费者最快下个月就会看到日本电子产品和汽车短缺的状况。但更加难以衡量的是，出现的问题可能持续多久，更广泛的影响 会是什么。密歇根州米德兰市（Midland）诺斯伍德大学（Northwood University）的经济学教授艾柏林（Richard Ebeling）说，那边太混乱了，我们无法确定会有多大程度的供应中断。Complicating the issue, Japan primarily produces small components like transistors and silicon wafers that are used to make microchips which in turn go into a wide range of electronics. And because companies get materials from all over the world, many are still figuring out just how much they rely on Japan, says Shawn DuBravac, an economist for the Consumer Electronics Association. Domestic auto manufacturers also get many parts from Japan. For both industries, shortages could affect companies and production globally.消费电子协会（Consumer Electronics Association）的经济学家杜布拉瓦茨（Shawn DuBravac）说，令这一问题变得更加复杂的是，日本主要生产用于制造芯片的晶体管和硅片，而芯片又可以用于制造一系列电子产品。由于各大企业可以从 全球采购原材料，许多公司仍在估计自身企业对日本的依存度。国内汽车制造商也从日本进口了许多零部件。对于这两个行业来说，短缺可能影响全球范围内的各大 企业和生产状况。Shortages are already being felt in the auto industry. General Motors said this week it would halt production at its Shreveport, La., plant and lay off workers temporarily at a second facility in Buffalo, N.Y., due to part shortages for its GMC Canyon and Chevy Colorado pickups. And car-buyers can expect to pay more for popular models like the Japan-assembled Toyota Prius, which was already selling at a premium before the earthquake, says Alec Gutierrez, the manager of vehicle valuation for Kelley Blue Book. Its not that prices will rise necessarily, but dealerships with limited supply can afford to price cars at sticker price - or higher - with none of the usual cash-back incentives or room for haggling. On the used-car market, prices for fuel-efficient compact cars could rise further as dealerships and individual consumers turn to the market to find what they cant on lots.汽车业已经感受到了短缺带来的影响。通用汽车公司本周表示，旗下路易斯安那州什里夫波特（Shreveport）的工厂 将停工，而纽约州水牛城（Buffalo）的工厂将暂时裁员，原因是GMC Canyon和雪佛兰科罗拉多皮卡（Colorado pickups）的零部件短缺。Kelley Blue Book的车辆估价经理古铁雷斯（Alec Gutierrez）说，对于一些像日本组装的普锐斯（Prius）等热门车型来说，购车者预计将要付出更多的钱。普锐斯在地震前就已经溢价销售。这并不 是说价格一定会上涨，但在供应有限的情况下，经销商有资本将价格定在官方指导价或更高的水平上，且不用常见的现金返利等促销手段，也不给消费者砍价的空 间。在二手车市场中，省油的小型车的价格可能会进一步上涨，因为经销商和个人消费者到二手车市场就是想找他们无法在很多地方买到的车。The biggest impact in electronics is likely to be later release dates for new items and longer backorder times for popular or already waitlisted items such as the iPad 2, DuBravac says. Were not going to see price increases, because theres so much competition, he says. Most of the shorted pieces cost just pennies to make, anyway, so a price hike wouldnt be significant if it did materialize. The best thing to do, experts advi