IMF: Western Sanctions Could Hurt Russia's Economy

The International Monetary Fund says sanctions linked to the crisis in Ukraine could end up hurting Russia's economy. The IMF says the sanctions could lead to a nine percent drop in Russia's gross domestic product or GDP -- the value of all its goods and services.
国际货币基金组织表示,和乌克兰危机相关的制裁可能最终会伤害俄罗斯的经济。国际货币基金组织称,制裁可能会导致俄罗斯国内生产总值下降9%。

The Russian economy shrank over the past year because of Western measures aimed at punishing Russia for its actions in Ukraine. Russian measures against the West also hurt the economy. In addition, low prices for oil exports increased pressure on the value of Russian money and the country's finances.
过去一年,由于西方对俄罗斯在乌克兰行动的惩罚措施,俄罗斯经济有所萎缩。俄罗斯反制西方的措施也伤害了经济。此外,石油出口价格低廉也增加了俄罗斯货币价值和俄罗斯财政的压力。

Now, the Russian economy is showing signs of stabilization. The economy no longer appears to be as weak as it once was.
现在,俄罗斯经济开始出现企稳迹象。经济也不再像之前的那么弱势。

Last year, Western countries ordered restrictions that limited financing for major Russian banks and energy companies. The West also restricted high-technology exports to Russia's energy industry. In reaction, the Russian government banned imports of most Western food products.
去年,西方国家出台了限制俄罗斯主要银行和能源公司融资的措施。西方国家还限制了对俄罗斯能源产业的高科技产品出口。作为回应,俄罗斯政府禁止了大部分西方食品的进口。

The International Monetary Fund estimated the immediate effect of sanctions and Russian actions against the West reduced Russia's GDP by up to 1.5 percent. The IMF said its estimate rose to nine percent over the next few years. But IMF officials said their findings were based on economic models, and they could change.
国际货币基金组织估计制裁的直接影响和俄罗斯针对西方的回应使得俄罗斯国内生产总值降低高达1.5%。国际货币基金组织表示,该组织估计未来几年这一数值会上升到9%。但是国际货币基金组织官员表示,他们的研究结果是基于经济模型,而这可能会有所变化。

The IMF also predicted "weak" economic growth of about 1.5 percent a year in Russia over the next few years. The economy was growing about seven percent a year before the world financial crisis in 2008.
国际货币基金组织还预测,未来几年俄罗斯俄罗斯每年的经济增长大约为1.5%左右。在2008年全球经济危机之前俄罗斯经济增长为7%左右。

The IMF said, "Slow-moving structural reforms, sluggish investment and adverse population dynamics are all part of the picture." It urged Russia to reduce the involvement of the state in the economy, protect property rights and increase competition.
国际货币基金组织表示,“结构性改革缓慢推动,投资低迷和人口动态不利都是其中一部分。”它要求俄罗斯减少对经济的干预,保护财产权利和提高竞争力。

The IMF said Russia would return to economic growth next year as a weaker value for its money increased competitiveness and overseas demand increased. It also predicted that financial conditions in the country would normalize.
国际货币基金组织表示,随着俄罗斯货币贬值提高了竞争力,以及海外需求增加,俄罗斯经济增长将会恢复。该组织还预测,该国的财务状况将会正常化。

The Fund also predicted a growth rate of two-tenths of one percent next year following shrinkage of 3.4 percent this year.
该组织还预测在今年萎缩3.4%之后,明年增长速度为0.2%。

Inflation was predicted to slow to about 12 percent by the end of this year and then eight percent by the end of next year.
预计今年年底通胀会放缓至12%左右,而明年年底将会放缓到8%。