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

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.
世界经济的增长速度并不像众多专家们希望的那么快。国际货币基金组织（IMF）最近宣布，它正在改变对未来经济活动的预期。

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.
国际货币基金组织称，目前其预测2013年世界经济增长略微超过3%，比先前预测的3.3%要低。

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.
国际货币基金组织将增长放缓部分归咎于发展中国家所谓的“增长持续令人失望”，以及欧洲经济衰退比预期的要深。

Olivier Blanchard is the chief economist at the IMF.
Olivier Blanchard是国际货币基金组织首席经济学家。

"The main effect really comes from the slowdown in emerging market economies, but we are also revising down the euro area forecast."
“主要的影响来自于新兴市场经济体的增长放缓，但我们下调了欧元区的预测。”

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.
由于人们减少购买，国际商品和服务的需求也降低了。欧洲尤为明显。欧洲的债务危机和政府削减支出措施已经导致欧元区17个国家史上最长时间的经济增长放缓。

Peter McGuire studies Asia markets for the financial service company Baxter FX.
Peter McGuire在金融服务公司Baxter FX研究亚洲市场。

"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."
“这并不奇怪。当你想到全球需求，它似乎在软化。欧盟也是如此。整个欧元区持续放缓到近乎负增长的位置。”

Reduced demand has slowed growth in faster-growing economies, especially in the countries known as BRIC - Brazil, Russia, India, and China.
需求下降导致增长较快的经济体增长放缓，尤其是在被称为金砖四国的巴西、俄罗斯、印度和中国。

Olivier Blanchard says economic activity in the BRIC countries has an affect on more developed economies.
Olivier Blanchard说，金砖四国的经济活动对发达经济体也有影响。

"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."
“例如，如果金砖四国的增长相对于我们的预测降低两成，那么，对美国的影响将会是半个百分点。因此这很重要。”

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.
国际货币基金组织已经下调了其对美国经济增长的预期。然而，最近关于美国住房与就业的报告显示，虽然放缓但增长稳定。

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.
这一增长已经足够强大到让美国央行改变保持长期利率处于历史低位的货币政策。

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.
Olivier Blanchard称，美国利率上升可能会给一些国家带来困难，但他相信，这也将是世界最大经济体强劲复苏的证据。

"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."
“一路上可能会有些波动，但是底线仍是相同的，这对世界来说是个好消息。”

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.
国际货币基金组织预测明年世界经济会有所改善。但IMF称，改善条件是可能的，只要主要经济体削减长期债务，并出台有助于短期增长的政策。