英格兰地方政府联合会昨晚预测，由于圣诞节的种种压力，无力偿还房贷欠款以及经济衰退，下个月的离婚潮来势汹汹。 (来源：专业英语学习网站 http://www.EnglishCN.com)

　　Nearly a fifth (17 percent) of local authorities have reported higher demand for relationship counselling since the economic downturn took hold.

　　将近五分之一(17%)的地方政府报道说，自经济衰退以来，关于伴侣关系咨询的需求有所提高。

　　The problem is particularly pronounced in London--which is heavily reliant on the struggling

　　financial services sector. A quarter of boroughs in the capital have experienced a rise.

　　问题特别严重的是伦敦——这里是与陷入困境的金融服务业联系最紧的地区。该市属下各区当局中四分之一都遇到了这个问题。

　　The figures emerged in a survey by the Local Government Association (LGA), which represents

　　more than 400 councils across England and Wales.

　　这是地方市/区政府联合会的一项调查的发现。LGA代表了英格兰和威尔士400多个地方政府。

　　Amid rising unemployment and house repossessions over recent months, 93 percent of councils said they had been providing more debt advice, and half highlighted extra demand for jobs counselling.

　　过去几个月，失业率和因无力付房贷导致房屋被收回的比率升高。93%的地方政府都说，他们提供了更多有关债务的建议，其中有一半还要求就业咨询。

　　The LGA said factors such as the stress of Christmas meant divorce proceedings often leapt by 50 per cent in January, and there could be "even more" splits this year.

　　LGA说，诸如圣诞节这样造成心理紧张的因素，到一月份，离婚申请率可能上跳50%。今年可能出现离异的比率甚至可能比这还高。

　　"The January divorce season could be worse than ever this year," said the LGA. The survey

　　found 69% of councils reported an increase in demand for housing advice as a result of the

　　economic downturn and 50% said voluntary organisations were dealing with more requests for

　　employment advice.

　　LGA说：“今年的1月离婚季可能比以往更糟。” 调查发现69%的地方政府都表示，要求有关住房问题的资料的人数有所增加。50%说，志愿组织面对更多就业咨询。

　　It asked 155 council chief executives about the impact of the economic downturn on voluntary

　　organisations that receive funding from the municipal budget.

　　调查就经济衰退对那些市/区政府资助的志愿组织的影响询问了155个地方市/区政府负责人。

　　One in 10 councils has been asked to give emergency grants to charities and voluntary

　　organisations, which are in trouble because of the economic slowdown.

　　十分之一的地方市/区政府被要求给慈善和志愿组织更多资金，这些机构由于经济衰退陷入危机。

　　Chairman Margaret Eaton said: "These figures demonstrate the effects the credit crunch and

　　the recession are having on families across the country.

　　联合会主席玛格丽特·伊顿说：“这些数字表明，信贷紧缩和经济衰退已经对全国各地的家庭产生影响。”