7月15日，IT業(yè)巨頭IBM公司公布了2004年第二季度的收益情況，報(bào)告顯示，由于硬件設(shè)備銷售狀況良好，IBM實(shí)現(xiàn)了季度收益的第六次持續(xù)增長(zhǎng)。外電有這樣的報(bào)道：IBM on Thursday reported its sixth consecutive quarterly rise in profit, as strength in computer hardware and services largely shielded it from the shortfalls that hit other technology companies. Shortfall表示“不足、差額、赤字”的意思，例如：There will be a shortfall in the wheat supplies this year.（今年的小麥供應(yīng)將不足。）短語(yǔ)trade shortfall表示“貿(mào)易赤字”。