From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report.

这里是美国之音慢速英语经济报道。

Economists are warning of slower growth in Thailand, southeast Asia's biggest economy. A major credit rating agency recently reported that continued political unrest in Thailand could hurt the country's economy.

经济学家对东南亚最大经济体泰国的经济增速放缓提出警告。一家大型信用评级机构最近报告称，泰国政治持续动荡可能会伤害该国的经济。

In its report, Fitch Ratings noted a reduction in manufacturing and sharply lower sales of goods and services. Fitch said, the trust of both Thai consumers and business is at its lowest level since the huge floods of 2011.

在报告中，惠誉评级(Fitch Ratings)指出了制造业的缩减以及商品和服务的销售大幅下降。惠誉表示，泰国消费者和企业的信心都处于2011年大洪水以来的最低水平。

The ruling party is seeking to break up the opposition Democrat Party. Opposition forces accused the ruling party led by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinwatra of being disloyal to the king, that is a serious accusation in Thailand. The opposition has also questioned the fairness of recent elections.

执政党正寻求分化反对党民主党。反对派指责英拉总理领导的执政党对泰王不忠，这在泰国是一项非常严重的指控。反对派还质疑最近选举的公正性。

Now foreign investors are getting concerned. The president of Toyota Motor Corp in Thailand has warned that long term investors may put their money in other areas, like Indonesia or Vietnam.

现在投资者也越来越担忧。泰国丰田汽车公司总裁警告说，长期投资者可能将其资金投往其它地区，像印尼或越南。

Chris Baker is an expert on business in Thailand. He says major foreign investors are concerned about the elections. They feel the lack of a clear winner will frighten investors. He also says car makers and related businesses are concerned the government will be unable to make serious policy decisions.

克里斯·贝克(Chris Baker)是泰国的一位商业专家。他说，国外主要投资者对泰国选举非常担忧。他们觉得缺少明确赢家会吓到投资者。他还表示，汽车制造商和相关企业都担心政府将无法出台重大政策决策。

Thailand's government is under financial pressure to pay rice farmers more than $3 billion for rice it promised to buy at higher than market prices. Now, the government is having trouble finding the money to pay the farmers. Banks have been unwilling to loan money for the plan.

泰国政府正处于付给稻农30多亿美元的经济压力之下，政府承诺过以高于市场价格收购稻农的大米。目前，政府很难找到资金付给农民。银行一直不愿意为这项计划提供贷款。

Foreign investors have also been pulling back from the Thai stock market since political protests began in November. The leading measure of Thai stocks has lost 10 percent of its value since then.

国外投资者自去年11月政治示威以来一直在撤出泰国股市。自那时起泰国股市指数已经跌去10%。

Andrew McBean is a partner with Grant Thornton Thailand, a business advisory service. He says the fact that the elections were largely peaceful was a hopeful sign.

安德鲁·麦克贝恩(Andrew McBean)是一家商务咨询公司泰国均富国际的合伙人。他说，选举大致和平进行的事实是一个希望的迹象。

Still Thailand’s tourist industry has been hurt by the unrest in the capital Bangkok. More than forty countries have announced travel alerts in recent weeks. And tourism officials estimated losses for the month of January alone at $685 million.

然而泰国旅游业一直受到首都曼谷骚乱的伤害。最近数周，四十多个国家提出了旅行警告。旅游官员预计，单一月份损失就达到6.85亿美元。

The Thai economy has recovered from earlier political and economical problems, but the recent unrest may make it harder for foreigners to want to return as they have in the past.

泰国经济已经从此前的政治和经济问题中恢复，但最近的动乱可能很难让外国人像以前一样想要返回泰国。

Thai Political Unrest Brings Economic Uncertainties

By VOA

20 February, 2014

From VOA Learning English, this is the Economics Report.

Economists are warning of slower growth in Thailand, southeast Asia's biggest economy. A major credit rating agency recently reported that continued political unrest in Thailand could hurt the country's economy.

In its report, Fitch Ratings noted a reduction in manufacturing and sharply lower sales of goods and services. Fitch said, the trust of both Thai consumers and business is at its lowest level since the huge floods of 2011.

The ruling party is seeking to break up the opposition Democrat Party. Opposition forces accused the ruling party led by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinwatra of being disloyal to the king, that is a serious accusation in Thailand. The opposition has also questioned the fairness of recent elections.

Now foreign investors are getting concerned. The president of Toyota Motor Corp in Thailand has warned that long term investors may put their money in other areas, like Indonesia or Vietnam.

Chris Baker is an expert on business in Thailand. He says major foreign investors are concerned about the elections. They feel the lack of a clear winner will frighten investors. He also says car makers and related businesses are concerned the government will be unable to make serious policy decisions.

Thailand's government is under financial pressure to pay rice farmers more than $3 billion for rice it promised to buy at higher than market prices. Now, the government is having trouble finding the money to pay the farmers.

A sign indicating the closure of a main touristic road can be seen next to barricades of anti-government protesters near a main stage of the protest in Bangkok, Feb. 5, 2014.

Banks have been unwilling to loan money for the plan. Foreign investors have also been pulling back from the Thai stock market since political protests began in November. The leading measure of Thai stocks has lost 10 percent of its value since then.

Andrew McBean is a partner with Grant Thornton Thailand, a business advisory service. He says the fact that the elections were largely peaceful was a hopeful sign.

Still Thailand's tourist industry has been hurt by the unrest in the capital Bangkok. More than forty countries have announced travel alerts in recent weeks. And tourism officials estimated losses for the month of January alone at $685 million.

The Thai economy has recovered from earlier political and economical problems, but the recent unrest may make it harder for foreigners to want to return as they have in the past.

And that's the Economics Report from VOA Learning English. You can find more programs at our website chinavoa.com. I'm Mario Ritter.