report for economy analysis

The Recycling industry is slowly on the road to recovery after going through an economic rollercoaster ride. A year ago, there was high demand for scrap steel, metals and other recyclable products, leading to record prices. Then demand abruptly ceased and prices plummeted. Up until June, there was demand everywhere and therefore prices were high. Because the U.S. dollar was low there was more demand from the Pacific Rim countries for scrap steel and other recyclables. But then the U.S. economy faltered and the world financial market stumbled. As a consequence demand dropped and prices plunged. According to R. E. Cycle, chief executive of the World Recycling Association, prices for used cardboard dropped by 75 percent in four months and other recyclables saw price drops, as well.

rollercoaster ride 过山车
cardboard 硬纸板

Graph 4 - The level of air pollution has fluctuated all year.
Graph 3 - The population of sea lions had leveled out after the high water contamination of the previous years. Unfortunately a new oil leak was the reason numbers plunged again in the last quarter of the year.
Graph 2 - The demand for recyclables increased slowly over the first two quarters of the year. In the third quarter it peaked but then it plummeted to its lowest point.