VOA常速英语:Russia’s Prosperity: Depends on Whom You Ask

From the bright and joyful displays on Red Square, it’s hard to tell that anyone is worried about possible economic troubles ahead.It’s clear in Moscow’s retail districts that some people are doing well.I don’t plan to economize. This is a planned holiday for which the budget has already been allocated without any real economy.
看着红场上明亮又喜庆的陈列，你很难想到有人还在为眼前可能出现的经济问题发愁。显然，在莫斯科的零售区，有些人还过得不错。我不打算削减开支。这就是计划中的假期，预算已经做好了，不需要精打细算。

But in shopping for the biggest feasts of the year, not all are spending with abandon.Some, especially among Russia’s estimated 40 million pensioners, are worried about having enough money in the new year.I see that the situation among the ordinary people is not getting better.I wish someone would think more about the pensioner.Those concerns are not unfounded in an economy that analysts describe as contradictory.
但是，为今年最大的盛宴购物时，不是所有人都敢肆意消费。俄罗斯一些人在担心着新的一年是否有足够的资金，尤其是4000万领养老金的俄罗斯人。我看到普通人的情况并没有好转。我希望一些人可以更多地考虑考虑老人。这些担忧并非毫无根据，分析家认为当前经济存在矛盾之处。

Despite the fact that we have economic growth, we have had four years’ slump in real incomes. Here is one more Russian paradox. High salaries, drawing salaries and decreasing real incomes. This is all because of quite big shadow sector but black economy, without an official taxation.Analysts predict an overall drop in spending this holiday season due to international sanctions and government policies that include higher taxes and rising interest rates.The direction of the economy in 2019 will be crucial for President Vladimir Putin, whose supporters mostly live away from the glitz of the capital.For Russians, this is a chance to eat, drink and prepare for whatever the new year brings.
尽管我们有经济增长，但四年来，实际收入却在下滑。俄罗斯还有一个矛盾的现象。人们工资上涨，再支取工资，实体经济仍然下滑。这全都是因为存在着相当大的灰色收入，也就是非法经济，没有官方税收。分析师预测，由于国际制裁和政府政策（包括提高税收和提高利率），这个节日的支出总体会下降。对总统弗拉基米尔·普京来说，2019年的经济发展方向至关重要，普金的支持者大多住在远离浮华首都之处。对于俄罗斯人来说，这是一个大快朵颐、迎接新年之季。

Pete Cobus in Moscow, Faith Lapidus VOA News.
美国之音新闻，莫斯科Pete Cobus提供，Faith Lapidus报道。