naphtha (petrochemical feedstock)shínǎoyóu石脑油shortageduǎnquē短缺to push up / to drive uptuīgāo推高building material costsjiàncái建材costchéngběn成本，JapanRìběn日本residential housingzhùzhái住宅homebuilders / construction firmsjiànshāng建商to announcexuānbù宣布to raise pricestí jià提价。
April 20, 2026 at 11:00 AM
New Words
News in English
BusinessJapan Homebuilders Plan Price Hikes as Naphtha Shortage Drives Up Pipe and Paint Costs
Multiple Japanese homebuilders have announced plans to raise housing prices after naphtha shortages caused by the Hormuz crisis sharply increased the cost of pipes, paint, and other key construction materials.
Due to tight naphtha supply, multiple Japanese residential construction companies have announced plans to increase housing prices. Naphtha shortage has caused procurement costs for pipes and paint to surge sharply. Construction companies stated these material price increases have far exceeded any previous period. Some construction companies have already suspended new project contract signings, waiting for raw material supply to return to normal. Because materials failed to arrive, some construction projects had to stop mid-way. Industry insiders predict that if this situation continues, newly built home prices will see across-the-board increases.
More in Business
Amazon (company)Yǎmǎxùn亚马逊to receive / to getshōudào收到$600 million6 yì měiyuán6亿美元tax refund / tariff refundtuìshuì退税，will (future marker)jiāng将a portion / partbùfèn部分to return / to refundfǎnhuán返还to / forgěi给customersgùkè顾客。
Amazon Receives 600 Million Dollars in Tariff Refunds and Will Return Some to Customers
ChinaZhōngguó中国in July / for Julyqīyuèfèn七月份manufacturing sectorzhìzàoyè制造业PMI (Purchasing Managers Index)PMIPMIto drop to / fall todiè zhì跌至49.2 (contraction territory)49.249.2，five monthswǔ gè yuè五个月within the past period / sincelái来for the first timeshǒucì首次to contract / to shrinkwěisuō萎缩。
China Manufacturing PMI Falls to 49.2 in July, First Contraction in Five Months
Bank of EnglandYīnggélán yínháng英格兰银行by / withyǐ以six votes to threeliù bǐ sān piào六比三票to maintain / to keepwéichí维持base interest rate / benchmark ratejīzhǔn lìlǜ基准利率3.75 percent3.75%3.75%unchanged / constantbúbiàn不变。
Bank of England Holds Rate at 3.75% as Monetary Policy Committee Votes 6-3
the United StatesMěiguó美国second quarter / Q2dì èr jìdù第二季度GDP (gross domestic product)GDPGDPto grow / growthzēngzhǎng增长1.5 percent1.5%1.5%，lower than / belowdīyú低于marketshìchǎng市场expectations / forecastyùqī预期。
US Economy Grows 1.5% in Second Quarter, Below Market Expectations