1、The effects of thatrecessionobviously still being felt today.经济衰退造成的影响,时至今日依然明显。And there are fears about the possibility of another recession, if America goes off thing called acliff.而且, 如果美国称之为财政悬崖的话,人们也担心另一场衰退的可能性。And that refers to some tax increase and government spending cuts.它同时也指一些增加税收及削减政府开
2、支。That scheduled to happen at the end of this year, unless congress agrees on how to stop it.除非国会同意出面阻止,否则这将在今年年底发生。Recessions are usually followed by periods of recovery, this time that recovery has been weak.经济衰退通常是紧随复苏时期其后,因为在这个时候,复苏非常疲弱。Maggie Lake explores this mystery.玛吉莱克将探寻其中的奥秘。In this off-
3、Broadway production, the race is on to find the cold-blooded killer of W.Harrison Brant who lives in Connecticut with his wife.在这百老汇外,找到和妻子住在康涅狄格的冷血杀手哈里森布兰特成了一种比赛。In real life, anothermysteryhas been unfolding for months.而在现实生活中,另一个谜已经有几月有余。The case of who or what killed the US economic recovery.谁或者
4、什么情况将美国经济复苏置于死地。Just like in this show, there is no shortage of suspects for whats slowing economic growth.就像是这个节目一样,但其中多数不乏怀疑经济增长放缓的疑点存在。Suspect NO.1, Europe.疑点1;欧洲。The biggest headwind the American economy is facing right now is uncertainty about Europe.“美国经济现在正面临着的最大的不利因素是欧洲的不确定性。”American firms
5、have seen European salesplummetamid fears at Greek default could spark another global banking crisis.美国公司已经看到欧洲销售的暴跌,而且担忧希腊违约可能引发另一场全球银行业危机。Suspect NO.2, congressionalgridlock.疑点2,国会的僵局。If congress has passed the proposal the president submitted, thered be a million more jobs today.“如果美国国会通过总统提交的建议,
6、 今天会有一百万个工作岗位。”New stimulus for Democrats say, could have created jobs has been shut down amid Beltway bickering.而民主党人对新的刺激会生,可以创造在环城公路没有的就业机会。They believe that government creats and spending creats jobs, we believe business and growth creates jobs.“他们相信政府能够创造并买创造就业买单,我们相信商业和增长创造就业机会。”Suspect NO.3,
7、runaway national debt.疑点3,失控的国家债务。 This sixteen trillion dollar with a debt, serves like a wet blanket over our economy, scaring employees of all size.“这十六万亿的美元债务,就像在我们的经济之上的扫兴者,吓唬着各种各样的员工。”Fiscal uncertainty is the key reason why companies arent hiring.财政不确定性的主要原因是公司不雇佣员工。And the fiscal cliff of au
8、tomatic spending cuts and tax increase that could hit next year, its terrifying firms.而且财政悬崖的自动削减开支和税收增加可能对明年也造成影响,这是多么可怕的公司。Suspect NO.4, energy crisis.疑点4,能源危机。The ever accelerating gasoline prices, this will break the back of the recovery.“不断攀升的汽油价格,这将破坏后面的复苏。”High gas and hitting bills act like
9、a direct tax on consumers.高价气体和攀升的账单就像一种税收直接打压消费者。Taking away money that would otherwise be spent at restaurants and stores.拿走钱的话则会消费在餐馆和商店。But one thing is certain, US growth has fallen from over 4% last year to under 2% today, amid one of the weakest post-war recoveries on record.但有一件事是肯定的,美国经济增长从去年的4%锐减到如今的2%之下,这是战后复苏的最低记录。