The US Commerce Department is out today with the latest numbers on gross domestic product or GDP.

美国商务部今天公布了国内生产总值或 GDP 的最新数据。

Every now and again—as in 2011, 2013 and today—America smacks into its " debt ceiling" , a political device that places a hard limit (currently $31.4trn, or 117% of gdp) on gross government borrowing.

美国时不时地——就像在 2011 年、2013 年和今天一样——触及它的“债务上限”，这是一种对政府总借贷设定硬性限制（目前为 31.4 兆美元，占 GDP 的 117%）的政治手段。