【英语中国】澳大利亚经济复苏 与中国密切相关

Australia posted its narrowest current account deficit in more than 20 years in the second quarter as a once-in-a-century mining boom continues to reshape the economy, putting it on the path of virtually unrivalled prosperity among developed economies even as the global backdrop remains murky.

At the same time, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported a rebound in both retail sales and building approvals in July, pointing to a recovery in activity.

The current account deficit narrowed to a seasonally adjusted A$5.6 billion in the second quarter of 2010 from a shortfall of A$16.46 billion in the first quarter, the ABS said Tuesday.

It was the narrowest deficit since the first quarter of 1989, the ABS said.

Coal exports grew in value by A$4 billion as prices rose 25% and volumes grew by 22%. Metal ore exports rose by A$5.6 billion on the back of a 39% price spike. The improvements drove a A$9.7 billion turnaround in trade of goods and services, the ABS said.

Surging exports will add 0.4 percentage point to economic growth in the second quarter, it said.

The bureau is set to publish the national accounts Wednesday at 0130 GMT. Economists expect the economy grew by around 1.0% over the three months to June 30, putting it on track for a return to trend pace of around 3.0%-3.25% by the end of the year.

The trade data underscore Australia's close relationship with China and its ravenous demand for steel products and energy sources, leaving the A$1.3 trillion economy potentially vulnerable if Chinese policy makers are unable to maintain the country's stellar growth.

大利亚今年第二季度经常项目赤字为逾20年来最低，因百年一遇的矿业繁荣在继续重塑着澳大利亚经济，尽管全球经济形势仍较黯淡，但澳大利亚在发达经济体中有望创下无可匹敌的繁荣。

与此同时，澳大利亚统计局(Australian Bureau of Statistics)公布7月份零售销售和营建许可双双回升，显示经济正在复苏。

澳大利亚统计局周二公布，2010年第二季度经季节调整后经常项目赤字缩窄至56亿澳元，第一季度为赤字164.6亿澳元。

澳大利亚统计局称，这是1989年第一季度以来经常项目赤字最低的一次。

煤炭出口价值增长40亿澳元，因煤炭价格上升25%，出口量增长22%。金属矿石出口价值增长56亿澳元，因价格上涨39%。澳大利亚统计局公布，这使得商品和服务贸易额达到97亿澳元。

该统计局称，出口猛增将为第二季度经济增长率贡献0.4个百分点。

澳大利亚统计局将于周三北京时间上午09:30公布国内生产总值（GDP）数据。经济学家预计，在截至6月30日的三个月，澳大利亚经济增长约1.0%，有望在年底前回归3.0%-3.25%左右的趋势增长速度。

该贸易数据凸显澳大利亚与中国关系密切，中国对钢材和能源资源需求迫切，假如中国决策者不能维持中国目前的快速增长，澳大利亚经济可能将受到冲击。