Raises Forecast for Global Economic Growth -
By LANDON THOMAS Jr. APRIL 18, 2017
WASHINGTON — The International Monetary Fund has raised its outlook for global growth, citing a postelection surge
in confidence in the United States, better prospects in large emerging markets and an uptick in global trade.
“This pickup in manufacturing, industrial production and trade is fueling our confidence
that this year and next year will be substantially better than 2016.”
In its analysis, the fund cited a pickup in commodity prices as well as signs of increased
investment spending as reasons behind the improved outlook in the emerging world.
After growing 2.2 percent last year, global trade volume will expand 3.8 percent this year and 3.9 percent in 2018, the I. M.F.
In delivering the spring version of the fund’s World Economic Outlook, a broad report on the international economy
that is updated several times a year, the I. M.F.’s economists took the opportunity on Tuesday to warn again against protectionist tendencies in developed economies.
The growth rate of the United States economy was projected to increase to 2.3 percent in 2017 and 2.5 percent next year from 1.6 percent in 2016.