dire
このブログにも何度も登場していますが、direは強い言葉です。もともとはラテン語のdirusに由来し、「不吉な、差し迫った、危機的な、大変な」という意味を持ち、dire need、dire situationなどと次にくる名詞を修飾します。そんなときに政治空白期間をつくってもよいのか疑問に思いますが、それも「大局」なのでしょう。（GP）
Economy in 4-month downturn
The government revised downward its economic assessment for November for the fourth straight month in its monthly report released Friday.
The economy has shown recent signs of weakness as exports have fallen due to a slowdown in the global economy that crippled production and affected employment, the report said.
It marks the first time since the period between October 2008 and February 2009 following the collapse of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers that the economic outlook has been down for four consecutive months.
The previous month's report did not include the word "recovery" for the first time in six months. It said: "Although some components still show steady movements, the economy has displayed a weak tone."
In the November report, however, even the word "steady movement" was excluded, indicating the nation's economy has entered a recessionary phase.
"[The economy] is in a dire state," said Seiji Maehara, state minister for economic and fiscal policy, at a press conference after a Cabinet meeting.
