美企去年12月裁员4万人

　　Companies in the U.S. unexpectedly shed 40，000 jobs in December， the first decline since April 2003， a private report based on payroll data showed today.

　　The decrease followed a gain of 158，000 in November， according to an ADP Employer Services report. Economists had forecast ADP to report a 120，000 gain in private employment for the month.

　　The figures prompted economists to lower their payroll estimates for the Labor Department's December jobs report in two days. An economy that grew in the third quarter at the slowest pace of 2006 may be making businesses reluctant to add workers， reducing the odds that consumer spending will accelerate soon， economists said.

　　据一份报告显示，美国企业去年12月裁减4万名员工，这是自2003年4月以来首次就业下降。

　　ADP企业服务组织研究报告显示，11月就业人数增加15.8万人之多，而12月的裁员就紧随其后，经济师们曾预测ADP公布的私营企业当月就业会增加12万人。

　　此次公布的就业数据可能会使经济师们调低他们对美劳工部在两天后发布的就业报告预测。他们认为，三季度出现的去年最低经济增速可能会使企业不愿增加员工人数，降低了消费开支会加速的可能性。