Oil prices spiked(飙升，急剧上升) again amid renewed fighting(在战火重燃之际) in the Middle East; Brent crude(布伦特原油) rose above $100 a barrel for the first time since July. Traders worry that oil stocks are lower than at the start of the conflict in February. In America the national average price for a gallon of unleaded petrol(无铅汽油) rose to $4.14 over the Labour Day weekend(美国劳工节周末), the highest it has ever been for the holiday. Rising fuel costs are becoming a headache for the Republicans ahead of the midterms(在中期选举之前).
中东战火重燃，油价再度飙升；布伦特原油自7月以来首次突破每桶100美元。交易员担心，石油库存比2月冲突爆发时还要低。在美国，阵亡将士纪念日周末期间，全国无铅汽油平均价格升至每加仑4.14美元，创下该假期历史最高纪录。不断上涨的燃油成本正成为共和党在中期选举前的一大难题。
The European Central Bank raised interest rates for the second time this year, lifting its deposit facility(存款便利利率) from 2.25% to 2.5%. The bank said the conflict with Iran continued to generate inflation pressures, and that inflation would remain well above its target(远高于目标水平) for an extended period. “The outlook is highly uncertain”, it cautioned(警告，告诫).
欧洲央行今年第二次加息，将存款便利利率从2.25%上调至2.5%。该行表示，与伊朗的冲突持续产生通胀压力，通胀将在较长时期内远高于目标水平。它警告称：“前景高度不确定。”
The yen(日元) traded around ¥153 to the dollar, a seven-month high. Scott Bessent, America’s treasury secretary, who helped Japan prop up the currency(支撑货币汇率) in July, warned traders against betting on a reversal(押注行情逆转): “I am the house now(“现在我是庄家”——赌场术语的政治隐喻)…Bet against me if you want.”
日元兑美元汇率在1美元兑153日元左右，创七个月新高。美国财政部长斯科特·贝森特曾在7月帮助日本支撑日元，他警告交易员不要押注日元逆转：“现在我是庄家……想跟我对赌就来吧。”
The grape depression
葡萄的萧条