From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report.
这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道。

Two recent economic reports warn that, although the world economy is growing, complicating issues like lower oil prices and conflict could hurt progress.
两份最新的经济报告警告称，虽然世界经济正在增长，油价下跌和冲突等复杂问题可能会损害这一进程。

The International Monetary Fund, or IMF, has reduced its prediction for world economic growth from 3.8 to 3.5 percent. That is still an improvement over 2014. But, the international lender says some major economies are facing economic struggles.
国际货币基金组织已经将世界经济增长预期从3.8%降低到3.5%。与2014年相比这仍然是一种进步。但是这家国际借贷机构表示，一些主要经济体将面临经济斗争。

The price of oil is about half of what it was last June. The IMF's chief economist, Olivier Blanchard, says lower oil prices have helped many major economies, but investment has dropped in oil exporting countries.
石油价格只有去年六月份的一半左右。国际货币基金组织的首席经济学家奥利维尔·布兰查德（Olivier Blanchard）表示，油价下跌已经帮助了许多主要经济体，但是石油输出国的投资有所下降。

"On the one hand, major economies are benefiting from the decline in the price of oil," Blanchard says. "But on the other, in many parts of the world, lower long run prospects adversely affect demand."
他说，“一方面，主要经济体受益于石油价格下跌。但另一方面，在世界上的很多地方，长远前景降低反而影响了需求。”

The United Nations also released a report called "World Economic Situation and Prospects 2015." UN economists predict growth this year will be 3.1 percent. They point out that crises like the Ebola outbreak in West Africa and conflict in Ukraine could hurt a world economy showing signs of improvement.
联合国也发布了《2015年世界经济形势和展望》的报告。联合国经济学家预计今年的经济增长为3.1%。他们指出，西非埃博拉疫情暴发和乌克兰冲突等危机可能会损害开始出现好转迹象的世界经济。

Many see cost-cutting as a barrier to growth. High debt levels have limited opportunities for expansion in Europe. Alfredo Calcagno is an economist with the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development. He says austerity programs suppress economic recovery. Greece, he said, is one example.
许多人认为，削减开支是经济增长的障碍。高债务水平限制了欧洲的增长机会。阿尔弗雷多·卡尔卡尼奥（Alfredo Calcagno）是联合国贸易和发展会议的一名经济学家。他说，紧缩方案会抑制经济复苏。他说希腊就是一个例子。

The report predicts Africa's growth rate will increase reaching 4.6 percent in 2015 and 4.9 percent in 2016. East-African countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda are doing well.
该报告预计非洲的增长率将增加到2015年的4.6%和2016年的4.9%。埃塞尔比亚、肯尼亚和乌干达等东非国家表现不俗。

"In these countries, what you have is investment in other areas like telecommunication, infrastructure. You have a rising middle class that also is increasing its demands."
“在这些国家，电信和基础设施等领域不乏投资，不断增长的中产阶级也在提升其需求。”

But in Africa south of the Sahara Desert, IMF economists say growth expectations have weakened especially in Nigeria and South Africa. Falling prices of raw materials called commodities have also weakened expectations in Latin American and the Caribbean area.
但是国际货币基金组织的经济学家表示，撒哈拉沙漠以南非洲地区的经济增长预期已经减弱，尤其是尼日利亚和南非。原材料价格下跌也削弱了拉美和加勒比地区的经济增长预期。

Exchange rates can also influence economic growth. The value of the US dollar has strengthened while the euro and the yen have weakened. And that is not a bad thing for slowing European and Japanese economies says the IMF's Olivier Blanchard.
汇率也会影响经济增长。美国汇率走强而欧元和日元走弱。国际货币基金组织的布兰查德表示，这对正在放缓的欧洲和日本经济来说不是一件坏事。

"The depreciation of the euro and yen will give a much needed boost to demand in those two parts of the world, which very much need an increase in demand."
“欧元和日元贬值将给这两个地区的需求提供所需的推动力，而这两个地区急需需求增长。”

The U.S. also is expected to show good growth of over three percent this year.
预计美国今年也将展示出超过3%的良好增长势头。

UN economists expect East Asia to remain the fastest growing area with economic expansion of almost five percent. However, both IMF and the UN economists expect China's growth to be under seven percent in 2015.
联合国经济学家预计东亚仍将以近5%的经济增长继续成为增长最快的地区。然而，国际货币基金组织和联合国专家都预计2015年中国的经济增长将会低于7%。