cushion

日本経済の６−９月間の成長率が予測よりも低かったという記事です。

Japan's economic growth revised down

In October, Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his government will raise the rate of sales tax to 8% from 1 April next year, from 5%.

Policymakers have argued that the increase is needed to help reduce Japan's public debt - which now stands as around 230% of its gross domestic product (GDP) - and is the highest among industrialised nations.

However, there have been concerns that such a move may hurt domestic demand.

In an attempt to allay those fears, and to cushion the impact of the tax rise, the government approved a 5.5 trillion yen ($54bn; £30bn) stimulus package last week.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-25295708

この記事の中にでてくる"cushion"の意味を調べました。『Wisdom英和辞典（第三版）』（三省堂）で調べると「緩和する，和らげる」などという意味がありました。今後は消費税率増加や自動車に対する税の見直しなど，経済成長にマイナス影響を及ぼす恐れのある要因が控えているので，今後も日本経済の動向に注目していく必要があると思いました。（Ume）