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

The American economy is improving, but the rate of growth remains low. America's jobless rate fell in 2012 to its lowest level in four years. Average home prices are no longer falling. And money has been flowing into financial markets.
美国经济正在改善，但经济增速仍然很低。2012年美国失业率降至四年以来最低水平，平均房价不再下跌，同时资金不断流入金融市场。

But as the year ends, most observers say the economic recovery has not been as strong as they had hoped. One reason for the recovery is federal spending. Like many other countries, the United States is spending more money than it is receiving in taxes.
但随着年末来临，大多数观察家表示经济复苏并没有他们预想的那么强劲。经济复苏的原因之一是联邦开支。和许多国家一样，美国的支出超过了其税收。

Some countries are spending money they do not have in an effort to get their economies growing again. Richard Rahn is an economist with the Cato Institute.
一些国家为了获得经济再次增长透支消费。理查德·拉恩（Richard Rahn）是卡托研究所的经济学家。

"If countries had only been spending within their means in keeping spending growing no faster than the rate of economic growth, we wouldn't have the global economic mess."
他说，“如果各国量入为出，保持支出增长不高于经济增长速度，我们就不会陷入全球经济混乱。”

But other economists say the mathematics is not that simple. Desmond Lachman is with the American Enterprise Institute. He notes that deep budget cuts in Greece have produced a deep recession.
但其他经济学家表示，事情没那么简单。德斯蒙德·拉赫曼（Desmond Lachman）就职于美国企业研究所。他指出，希腊大幅削减预算已经产生了严重的经济衰退。

"Because what we're doing is, we're really applying very stringent austerity measures. The IMF concedes that the austerity hasn't been working, yet the Europeans are persisting in the same kind of austerity that got them into trouble in 2012, so something's got to give."
“因为我们在希腊采取的就是非常严格的紧缩措施。国际货币基金组织承认，紧缩措施并未生效。但在2012年，欧洲人坚持同一种紧缩政策，这使得他们陷入困境。所以事情得有所改变。”

Financial reform activist Robert Bixby says the biggest problem for the American economy is the country's political system.
金融改革活动家罗伯特·比克斯比（Robert Bixby）表示，美国经济面临的最大问题是该国的政治制度。

"Political dysfunction in this country is a bigger threat than economic dysfunction."
他说，“美国的政治机能失调是一个比经济机能失调更为严重的威胁。”

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says the country does not have to be this way. He has urged lawmakers to provide leadership.
美联储主席本·伯南克（Ben Bernanke）表示美国无需这样做。他已经督促国会议员发挥领导作用。

"Such uncertainties will only be increased by discord and delay. In contrast, cooperation and creativity to deliver fiscal clarity, in particular, a plan for resolving the nation's longer-term budgetary issues without harming the recovery could help make the New Year a very good one for the American economy."
他说，“争议和延误只会增加不确定性。相比之下，合作与创造性会导致财政清晰。尤其是一项不损害经济复苏却又能够解决国家长期预算问题的方案会有助于让美国经济在新的一年中变得更好。”

Bruce Stokes is an economist at the Pew Research Center. He says if the economy does not improve, many nations will be affected.
布鲁斯·斯托克斯（Bruce Stokes）是皮尤研究中心的经济学家。他表示，如果美国经济未能改善，许多国家将受到影响。

"There's an old saying that if we get the sniffles, the rest of the world gets a cold and so if we end up going to a recession as well, I think everybody is going to suffer."
他说，“有句老话说，如果我们打个喷嚏，世界各地都会感冒。所以如果我们最终发生经济衰退，我认为大家都会受到影响。”

As one year ends and a new one begins, the world is watching President Obama and congressional leaders. Many people want to know how America's political leaders will move to cut the budget deficit while protecting the economy.
辞旧迎新之际，全世界都在关注美国总统奥巴马和国会领导人。许多人都想知道美国政治领袖如何在保护经济的同时削减预算赤字。