IMF’s forecasts for economic growth in 2008 coincide with Government’s expectations

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecasts this year that Moldova’s GDP will grow by 7% and the inflation rate will reach 11.4%, Info-Prim Neo has learnt from the IMF updated report on the development of the European economies. Till 2009, the IMF anticipates a significant drop of inflation, down to 7.9%. According to the IMF’s report, Europe faces a slowdown of the economic growth, influenced by turbulence on financial markets, high inflation and the expected moderate recession in the United States. They forecast that in 2008 the GDP growth will be experienced by Montenegro – 7.2%, Belarus – 7.1%, Russia – 6.8% and Slovakia – 6.5%. The experts specify the large European economies will see but modest increases. As a result, the British GDP will grow by 1.6%, as the German and French economic growth will rise by 1.4%. The report was published on the IMF’s web site on April 21. In 2007, the economic growth in Moldova was 3%, while the inflation rate – 13.1%. At the same time, the Moldovan Government forecasts a 7% growth of the GDP in 2008 and an inflation rate of up to 10%. The World Bank has earlier forecast in its report on the perspectives of the World Economy the economic growth in Moldova would rise from 4% in 2006, to 6% in 2007, 6.8% in 2008, and 7% in 2009.