国际货币基金组织警告说美国经济可能会持续低迷（在线收听）

IMF Warns of a Protracted US Slowdown

Barry Wood

Washington

14 Aug 2001 23:47 UTC

The International Monetary Fund warned Tuesday that a 1)prolonged 2)slowdown in the U.S. economy could have 3)negative effects around the world.

In its annual report on the U.S. economy, the IMF warned that a 4)protracted U.S. slowdown would 5)dampen prospects of a quick recovery in Asia and Europe.

Fund economists say the U.S. slowdown that began in late 2000 has been deeper than anyone expected. The report also calls attention to the high level of the dollar and warns that the dollar could fall sharply if investor 6)sentiment turns 7)sour. On a trade-weighted basis the dollar is 40 percent stronger than it was six years ago.

Financial analysts are divided about whether U.S. economic activity has bottomed out and is set for 8)recovery. It's been seven months since the central bank began to cut interest rates in an effort to 9)boost growth.

Charles Lieberman of the Advisors Financial Center already 10)detects signs of a turnaround. "I think we've seen the worst quarters for GDP growth," he says. "I think we've seen the biggest job losses already, that was in the second quarter. I think 11)consumers are going to continue to spend. I think some of the benefits of lower interest rates still lie ahead. I think the economy will improve in the second half of the year." Mr. Lieberman spoke on CNBC television.

In its report, the IMF said U.S. economic growth will total 1.5 percent this year, a sharp decline from the 4 percent growth of 2000.

(1)      prolonged[prE5lRNd]adj.延长的, 拖延的

(2)      slowdown n.降低速度, 减速

(3)      negative[5ne^EtIv]n.否定, 负数, 底片adj.否定的, 消极的vt.否定, 拒绝(接受)

(4)      protract[prE5trAkt; (?@) prEJ-]v.延长

(5)      dampen[5dAmpEn]v.使潮湿, 使沮丧

(6)      sentiment[5sentImEnt]n.情操, 情感, 情绪, 观点

(7)      sour[5saJE(r)]adj.酸的, 发酵的, 酸腐的, 酸味的

(8)      recovery[rI5kQvErI]n.恢复, 痊愈, 防御

(9)      boost[bu:st]n. v.推进

(10)      detect[dI5tekt]vt.察觉, 发觉, 侦查, 探测v.发现

(11)      consumer[kEn5sju:mE(r); (?@) kEn5su:mEr]n.消费者