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Added on the 06/04/2021 15:04:30 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
The IMF downgrades its forecast for global economic growth this year, citing the impact of the Omicron variant of Covid-19, which contributed to a slowdown in the United States and China. World GDP is forecast to expand 4.4 percent this year, half a point lower than its previous estimate released in October, says IMF First Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath. SOUNDBITE
Optimism that new vaccines will bring the pandemic under control and allow economic activity to resume coupled with stimulus in major economies has boosted the growth forecast this year to 5.5 percent, the IMF says in its latest World Economic Outlook. SOUNDBITE
The OECD raises its global economic growth forecast for 2024, driven by strong performances in the United States and emerging countries while Europe lags behind. The US economy -- the world's biggest -- is now expected to expand 2.6 percent in 2024, up from the 2.1 percent previously expected. But the OECD expects timid growth of 0.7 percent in the eurozone, slightly better than the 0.6 percent previously expected. SOUNDBITE
The International Monetary Fund slightly lowers its outlook for the global economy, predicting the global economy will grow by 2.8 percent this year and three percent in 2024, a decline of 0.1 percentage point from its previous forecasts in January. SOUNDBITE
Surging inflation and severe slowdowns in the United States and China prompted the IMF to downgrade its outlook for the global economy this year and next, while warning that the situation could get much worse. SOUNDBITE