油价和通胀将拖累印度强劲经济？

音频下载[点击右键另存为]

India's economy grew by nine percent last year making it the world's fastest-growing major economy after China. But the news is not all good. There are worries that high crude oil prices and runaway inflation will slow down growth.

印度经济去年增长百分之9，成为仅次于中国的经济增长最快的国家。但也有人担心，高企的原油价格和失控的通货膨胀将拖慢印度的增长步伐。

India has pegged economic growth in the last fiscal year at a higher-than expected nine per cent. It is the third successive year that the economy has grown at this pace.

印度上个财政年度经济增长百分之9，高于预期，而且是连续第三年实现这个增长速度。

The numbers should have brought cheer to the government. But Indian officials are not celebrating as they battle two emerging concerns, high global crude oil prices and rising inflation.

政府本应对此感到欣慰，但印度官员并没有额手相庆，因为他们正在努力应对两个正在出现的问题，这就是高企的全球原油价格和不断攀升的通货膨胀率。

Record high crude oil prices are hurting India significantly because it imports about 70 percent of its needs.

由于印度石油需求的大约百分之70靠进口，因此创记录的原油价格正在使印度受到严重伤害。

The government heavily subsidizes prices of petroleum products. But public sector oil companies are now reeling under losses, and have warned they could face a cash crunch if retail prices are not raised.

印度政府对石油产品价格进行大量补贴，但国营石油公司仍旧亏损严重。国营石油公司警告说，如果不提高零售价格，他们将面临现金危机。

The government is likely to raise prices of gasoline soon, but there are concerns that the move will fuel inflation, which is already running high.

印度政府可能很快就会提高汽油价格，但是也有人担心，这样做会导致已经很高的通货膨胀率进一步攀升。

India's inflation rate surpassed eight percent last week, its highest level in four years.

印度的通胀率上星期超过百分之8，是四年来最高的。

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram says the government is trying to get a grip on prices. But he says there are no "easy solutions or instant answers."

印度财政部长奇丹巴拉姆说，政府正在努力控制物价，但是没有什么灵丹妙药或立竿见影的解决办法。

"Nobody is drawing any great satisfaction with an inflation [rate] of 8.1 [percent]," said Chidambaram. Eight-point-one is worrisome inflation. But we are confident that we will gain mastery over the situation, and inflation will be contained over a period of time. Of course it depends on crude oil prices and commodity prices."

他说：“没有人会对百分之8.1的通胀率感到高兴，百分之8.1的通胀率令人担忧。但我们有信心，我们会控制局面，在一段时间后遏制通货膨胀。当然，这取决于原油价格和商品价格。”

However, the finance minister expressed optimism that the economy will maintain a growth rate of 8.5 percent in the current year.

不过，奇丹巴拉姆仍对经济今年保持百分之8.5的增长率表示乐观。

Economists say that may not be an easy task. There are already signs that the economy is slowing somewhat. Growth in the manufacturing sector came down substantially in the early part of the year, partly due to slowing demand from consumers being hurt by high prices.

经济学家指出，这不是件轻松的任务。现在已经有迹象表明，经济增长开始放慢。今年头几个月，制造业增长幅度回落很多，部分原因在于消费者受高价格影响，减少了需求。

Indeed, the year ahead could be challenging for India. Economists say the government faces a daunting task in trying to maintain a high economic growth rate and keep inflation in check, which is hurting millions of poor people in the country.

今年对印度来说很具挑战性。经济学家指出，印度政府面临的艰巨任务是保持高增长率，同时遏制使这个国家数百万穷人受到伤害的通货膨胀。