The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has forecast Argentina’s inflation at 18.6 percent for this year. Private-sector consultants, meanwhile, say the increase in the price of goods and serves will be of 20 percent.
According to the World Economic Outlook released today in Washington, Argentina ranks fifth among countries in the world with the highest inflation levels, a ranking topped by Venezuela’s 96.8 percent and Ukraine’s 33.5 percent.
Compared to October’s outlook, Argentina’s economic perspectives have improved as a result of the “restraint in the balance of payments pressures.”
The positive outlook for Argentina refers to a “stronger expansion of public spending and larger private consumption which will compensate in part the fall in investments and exports.”
The IMF also forecast a deficit in the current account of the balance of payments expected to account for 1.7 percent of the GDP this year and 1.8 percent next year from a 0.9 percent in 2014.
In global levels, the organization commanded by Christine Lagarde said world growth should be expected “moderate” for 2015 – 3.5 percent – with varied outlooks between regions and nations.
The growth scenario in Latin American and the Caribbean is only showing 0.9-percent rates. South American giant Brazil will see a restraint of 1 percent with the IMF considering “weak” the business climate there as a result of competitiveness challenges, energy and water rationing risks and the Petrobras scandal.
In its report, the IMF also estimated a slowdown in the Chinese economic activity with growth rates showing drops systematically, going from 7.8 percent in 2013 to 6.8 percent this year and 6.3 percent next year.
buenosairesherald.com