The one thing that prevented the nine-member policy board from recommending a rate increase was the lacklustre spending by consumers, reflected in the waning confidence of the big retailers.

• 但是消费支出却仍然毫无起色，其反映就是大型零售商们的信心一降再降，而这是唯一可能让9名成员组成的董事会放弃升息的影响因素。