Spain's Deficit Worsens as Europe Reels into New Year

 　　Spain is getting ready to start the new year with a new round of austerity measures, hoping to contain a growing deficit¹.

　　The country's new government announced $11.5 billion in fresh spending cuts Friday, saying the budget was in worse shape than the previous government had acknowledged.  It also announced a freeze on pay for civil servants and a two-year income tax hike.

　　Deputy Prime Minister Soraya Saenz de Santamaria was quoted by the Associated Press as saying the cuts are just "the beginning of the beginning" and that the government would be forced to take "extraordinary measures" in 2012.

　　The spending cuts and tax hikes come as the new conservative government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced the country's budget deficit was bigger than anticipated - totaling 8 percent of Spain annual income and not the 6 percent that was expected.

　　Despite the problem, Mr. Rajoy's government did say it would increase pensions by 1 percent, making good on a campaign pledge.

　　Spain's economy has already been hit hard by unemployment, with the country's more than 20 percent unemployment rate the highest in the European Union.

　　Meanwhile, Germany's finance minister is offering hope for 2012.  In a newspaper interview, Wolfgang Schaeuble said he believes the 17-nation eurozone will bring the debt crisis under control in the new year.

　　Despite the gloom that has hung over much of Europe, Parisians are trying to usher² in the new year in style.

　　Many have been out shopping for luxury items - like shellfish, lobster³ and champagne⁴ - for a special meal.

　　Some shoppers say they are trying not to think too much about the hard economic times and want to treat themselves and their families.  But fishmongers say most shoppers are being more thrifty⁵ with their spending than in years past.

1 deficit   

n.亏空，亏损；赤字，逆差

参考例句：

• The directors have reported a deficit of 2.5 million dollars.董事们报告赤字为250万美元。
• We have a great deficit this year.我们今年有很大亏损。

2 usher   

n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员

参考例句：

• The usher seated us in the front row.引座员让我们在前排就座。
• They were quickly ushered away.他们被迅速领开。

3 lobster   

n.龙虾，龙虾肉

参考例句：

• The lobster is a shellfish.龙虾是水生贝壳动物。
• I like lobster but it does not like me.我喜欢吃龙虾，但它不适宜于我的健康。

4 champagne   

n.香槟酒；微黄色

参考例句：

• There were two glasses of champagne on the tray.托盘里有两杯香槟酒。
• They sat there swilling champagne.他们坐在那里大喝香槟酒。

5 thrifty   

adj.节俭的；兴旺的；健壮的

参考例句：

• Except for smoking and drinking,he is a thrifty man.除了抽烟、喝酒，他是个生活节俭的人。
• She was a thrifty woman and managed to put aside some money every month.她是个很会持家的妇女，每月都设法存些钱。