VOA慢速英語:IMF Lowers Its Outlook for World Economy

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report.

這里是美國之音慢速英語經(jīng)濟報道。

The world economy is not growing as fast as many experts had hoped. The International Monetary Fund recently announced it was changing its prediction for future economic activity.

世界經(jīng)濟的增長速度沒有許多專家希望的那么快。國際國際基金組織(簡稱IMF)最近宣布正在改變其對未來經(jīng)濟活動的預期。

The IMF now says it expects the world economy to grow only a little over 3 percent in 2013, that is down from an earlier prediction of 3.3 percent.

國際貨幣基金組織表示，目前該組織預測2013年世界經(jīng)濟增長僅僅略高于3%，低于之前預測的3.3%。

The IMF blamed the slower growth in part on what it called "continuing growth disappointments" in developing countries, and a deeper than expected recession in Europe.

國際貨幣基金組織將增長放緩部分歸咎于發(fā)展中國家所謂的“增長持續(xù)令人失望”，以及歐洲經(jīng)濟衰退超過預期。

Olivier Blanchard is the chief economist at the IMF.

奧利維爾·布蘭查德(Olivier Blanchard)是國際貨幣基金組織首席經(jīng)濟學家。

"The main effect really comes from the slowdown in emerging market economies, but we are also revising down the euro area forecast."

他說，“主要的影響來自于新興市場經(jīng)濟體的增長放緩，但我們下調(diào)了對歐元區(qū)的預測。”

International demand for goods and services has decreased as people buy less, that is especially true in Europe. There a debt crisis and government cost-cutting measures have produced the longest economic slowdown in the history of the 17-nation eurozone.

隨著人們減少購買，商品和服務的國際需求隨之降低。這一點在歐洲尤其明顯。歐洲的債務危機和政府削減支出措施已經(jīng)導致歐元區(qū)17個國家史上最長時間的經(jīng)濟增長放緩。

Peter McGuire studies Asia markets for the financial service company Baxter FX.

彼得·麥圭爾(Peter McGuire)在金融服務公司Baxter FX研究亞洲市場。

"It is not surprising. When you think about as far as global demand, that seems to be softening, and of course with Europe in the position that it's been in, it's just protracted slowness to a point of nearly negative growth across the whole zone."

他說，“這令人驚訝。當你深入考慮到全球需求，它似乎在走弱。歐盟也是如此。整個歐元區(qū)(的需求)持續(xù)放緩到近乎負增長的位置。”

Reduced demand has slowed growth in faster-growing economies, especially in the countries known as BRIC - Brazil, Russia, India, and China.

需求下降導致快速增長經(jīng)濟體的增長放緩，尤其是在被稱為金磚四國的巴西、俄羅斯、印度和中國。

Olivier Blanchard says economic activity in the BRIC countries has an affect on more developed economies.

奧利維爾·布蘭查德說，金磚四國的經(jīng)濟活動對發(fā)達經(jīng)濟體也有影響。

"If, for example, growth in BRICs was to go down by two percent relative to what we predict, then the effect on the U.S., for example, would be half a percent. So it matters."

他說，“舉例來說，如果金磚四國的增長相對于我們的預測下降兩成，那么以美國為例，對美國的影響將會是半個百分點。所以這很重要。”

The IMF has lowered its expectations for economic growth in the United State. Yet recent reports on American housing and employment have suggested slow but steady growth.

國際貨幣基金組織下調(diào)了其對美國經(jīng)濟增長的預期。然而，關于美國房屋與就業(yè)的最新報告顯示(美國經(jīng)濟增長)速度雖然放緩但增長穩(wěn)定。

This growth has been strong enough for America's central bank to change monetary policies that have kept long-term interest rates at record-low level.

這一增長已經(jīng)足夠讓美國央行改變保持長期利率處于歷史低位的貨幣政策。

Olivier Blanchard says rising American interest rates could create difficulties for some countries, but he believes it would also be evidence of the stronger recovery for the world's largest economy.

布蘭查德表示，美國利率上漲可能會給一些國家造成困難，但他相信，這也將成為世界最大經(jīng)濟體強勁復蘇的證據(jù)。

"Along the way, you may have quite a bit of volatility, but on that, the bottom line remains the same, which is - it's good news for the world."

他說，“在此過程中可能會有些波動，但是底線保持不變，這對世界來說是個好消息。”

The International Monetary Fund is predicting improvements in the world economy next year. But the IMF says the improving conditions are possible, only if major economies cut long-term debt and support policies that aid near-term growth.

國際貨幣基金組織預測明年世界經(jīng)濟會有所改善。但該組織表示，條件改善是可能的，但除非主要經(jīng)濟體削減長期債務，并鼓勵有助于短期增長的政策。