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Asian consumers have kept their countries' economies humming while exports to Europe and the U.S., long key sources of growth, have been a drag. Now there are signs consumer spending also is ticking down, which is bad news for one of the global economy's few bright spots. 在对欧洲和美国的出口成为拖累经济增长的不利因素的情况下，亚洲消费者成了保持该地区各个国家经济活力的重要力量。而如今却有迹象表明，亚洲消费者支出数量也在下降。对于全球经济少数亮点之一的亚洲地区来说，这是一个坏消息。长期以来，对欧美的出口是亚洲国家经济增长的重要因素。 Koreans are buying fewer cars. Chinese consumers are cutting back on new clothes. There aren't as many shoppers lining up outside Louis Vuitton boutiques in Hong Kong. Bets at the baccarat tables in casinos in Macau and Singapore - a proxy for Chinese tourism and consumer spending - have grown more slowly than in the previous three years. 韩国人购置新车的数量减少，中国消费者削减了添置新衣的支出。香港路易威登(Louis Vuitton)门店外排队的购物者数量没有以往那么多了。澳门和新加坡赌场赌桌上赌注──这是观察中国旅游业和消费支出的一个窗口──的增长速度和前三年相比慢了不少。 Some economists say that in recent months, the high-performing consumer sector across much of Asia has lost its edge. Many shopkeepers and business owners say they are feeling the effects of the cautious consumer. | 
