For months, beleaguered American consumers have defied expert forecasts that they would soon succumb to the pressures of falling home prices, fewer jobs and shrinking paychecks.

• 几个月以来，困惑的美洲的消费者藐视专家关于他们不久将屈服于低价倾销内倾的价格、减少的工作机会和缩水的支票的压力的预测。