森林火灾或为加拿大经济下滑的罪魁祸首

 　　The Canadian government said gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter shrank by 1.6%, its largest loss since 2009.

　　据加拿大政府表示，第二季度加拿大国内生产总值缩水了1.6%，是自从2009年以来下滑最大的一次。

　　The Canadian economy was hit hard by wildfires in its oil sands region, reducing its production.

　　加拿大油砂区森林火灾给该国经济带来了沉重的打击，并导致加拿大的石油产量有所下跌。

　　In the first quarter of the year, Canada's economy grew by 2.5%. The recent drop in GDP was larger than analysts¹ had projected, but not far off the predicted 1.5% loss.

　　今年第一季度，加拿大经济还增长了2.5%。第二季度GDP缩水幅度要比分析师预测的大，但是却也比1.5%的预估值多不了多少。

　　"The figure could have been worse, given the hit from the wildfire, and clearly confirms the disappointing downward trend in exports over the last few months," said Sal Guatieri, senior economist² at BMO Capital Markets.

　　BMO资本市场高级经济学家赛尔·盖特瑞表示：“于森林火灾的打击，情况本来可能会更糟，而第二季度的GDP数据显然证实了，在过去的几个月里出口下降的趋势令人失望。”

　　森林火灾或为加拿大经济下滑的罪魁祸首

　　In May, wildfires devastated³ the parts of northern Alberta where much of Canada's oil and natural gas is produced.

　　今年5月，森林大火摧毁了阿尔伯塔省北部的部分地区，其为加拿大的石油和天然气生产基地。

　　The fire burned 2,300 sq miles (5,957 sq km) of land and caused nearly $6bn ($4.5bn) in damages.

　　大火烧毁了2300平方英里（约合5957平方公里）的土地，造成经济损失近60亿加元（约合45亿美元）。

　　Economic growth is expected to pick up in the later half of the year as oil production gets back on track. But the decline in global oil prices will continue to weigh on the country's growth.

　　加拿大的经济增长，预计将在今年下半年发布的石油产量中回到正轨。但全球石油价格的下跌将继续拖累加拿大经济增长。

　　Canada's economy slipped into a recession at the end of 2015 as crude prices fell, but has since mostly recovered.

　　随着原油价格下跌，2015年底，加拿大的经济陷入衰退，但此后加拿大的经济大部分已恢复。

　　It was not only energy export that dropped in the spring, though. Declines in manufacturing exports also hit the economy. That sector⁴ is expected to pick up in the second half of 2016.

　　不仅是能源出口在春季下降，制造业出口也打击经济。不过，加拿大制造业预计将在2016年下半年有所恢复。

　　Economic figures for June, however, appear to signal that the downward trend may be over.

　　然而，6月份经济数据似乎表明下降的趋势可能提前结束。

　　"I think the Bank of Canada is still confident that exports will turn up and lead the economic expansion in the second half of the year," said Mr Guatieri.

　　盖特瑞先生表示：“我认为加拿大央行仍然相信出口将上升，并且会领涨今年下半年的经济。”

　　The government is also hoping that negotiations⁵ with the European Union over a free trade deal will help increase exports.

　　加拿大政府也希望与欧盟就自由贸易协定进行谈判，这将有助于加拿大增加出口。

　　A slowdown in the US economy also factored into Canada's second-quarter stumble.

　　美国经济放缓也在一定程度上受到加拿大第二季度经济数据表现不佳的拖累。

　　The US is Canada's largest trading partner and an uptick in US consumer spending should help lift exports.

　　美国是加拿大最大的贸易伙伴，美国消费者支出理应助力出口增加。

1 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

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 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

4 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。

5 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。