Analysts: Indian Economic Slowdown May Linger

 　　The slowdown in India’s economy is expected to continue into the next year, as growth in Asia's third largest economy plummets¹ to its lowest level in two years.

　　India's July-to-September quarter registered only 6.9 percent growth, far lower than projected by the government at the start of the year. Economists³ blame the slowdown on both domestic and global factors. Investment has come down sharply following 13 interest rate hikes in the last 18 months.

　　Efforts to rein⁴ in inflation have failed so far. The global economic slowdown is also beginning to hurt India as exports and foreign investment decline.

　　Chief economist² at HDFC Bank, Abheek Barua, says the economic slowdown could accelerate given that contributing factors are unlikely to go away quickly.

　　"There isn’t much of a silver lining," he said. "Things are just getting worse, and contrary to the government’s suggestion that this was a bad year and we will sort of bounce back, it is possible we will do worse next year if momentum⁵ in the adverse⁶ factors intensifies⁷, and that seems to be the case.”

　　Economists say the government’s efforts to stimulate⁸ growth are not working. Many industrial and infrastructure⁹ projects are on hold due to what is being called a “policy inertia” -- the government’s failure to make decisions after an outcry over corruption¹⁰ scandals involving senior officials.

　　Hopes that this policy paralysis¹¹ would be reversed after a recent decision to open the multi-brand retail¹² sector¹³ to foreign investors¹⁴ have not come to pass. There are fears that a political outcry over the decision may prompt the government to delay its rollout.

　　Barua says optimism around the rapid growth India was experiencing is fading somewhat.

　　“There is some reassessment of the growth story," he says. "There is some serious rethink about sustainable levels of growth. Earlier, nine percent was taken for granted, [and] now we are struggling with seven.”

　　The government has cut its growth forecasts to around 7.5 percent. In a recent report, the United Nations also said that growth in developing countries like India and China, which have stoked the engine of world economy, will slow in 2012.

1 plummets   

v.垂直落下，骤然跌落( plummet的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• As a result, blood sugar plummets, sometimes even going below the baseline. 结果，血糖浓度迅速掉落，有时甚至落于基线之下。 来自互联网
• State and local governments could continue to back as tax revenue plummets. 由于税收的直线下降，州和地方政府可能继续削减支出。 来自互联网

2 economist   

n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人

参考例句：

• He cast a professional economist's eyes on the problem.他以经济学行家的眼光审视这个问题。
• He's an economist who thinks he knows all the answers.他是个经济学家，自以为什么都懂。

3 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 rein   

n.疆绳，统治，支配；vt.以僵绳控制，统治

参考例句：

• The horse answered to the slightest pull on the rein.只要缰绳轻轻一拉,马就作出反应。
• He never drew rein for a moment till he reached the river.他一刻不停地一直跑到河边。

5 momentum   

n.动力，冲力，势头；动量

参考例句：

• We exploit the energy and momentum conservation laws in this way.我们就是这样利用能量和动量守恒定律的。
• The law of momentum conservation could supplant Newton's third law.动量守恒定律可以取代牛顿第三定律。

6 adverse   

adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的

参考例句：

• He is adverse to going abroad.他反对出国。
• The improper use of medicine could lead to severe adverse reactions.用药不当会产生严重的不良反应。

7 intensifies   

n.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的名词复数 )v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• A clear atmosphere intensifies the blue of the sky. 纯净的空气使天空变得更蓝。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Blowing on fire intensifies the heat. 吹火使热度加强。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 stimulate   

vt.刺激，使兴奋；激励，使…振奋

参考例句：

• Your encouragement will stimulate me to further efforts.你的鼓励会激发我进一步努力。
• Success will stimulate the people for fresh efforts.成功能鼓舞人们去作新的努力。

9 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

10 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

11 paralysis   

n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症)

参考例句：

• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。
• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。

12 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

13 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

14 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会