成人英语三级阅读理解(50)

The past few years have been difficult for most retailers. Consumer confidence plummeted following September 11, followed by anthrax in the mail, followed by Americans worrying about the economy and job security, and then the war in Iraq. The marketplace became overcrowded with tens of thousands of traditional retailers and e-retailers competing for shrinking consumer dollars.

过去几年对多数零售商来说是难捱的。9-11后，消费者的信心直线下降，接下来就是邮件炭疽热、美国人对经济和工作安全以及对伊拉克战争的忧虑。成千上万的传统零售商和电子零售商充斥市场，争夺着消费者手中日益缩水的美元。