IMF, 올해 세계성장률 -4.9%로…1.9%P 하향, 한국 성장률 -2.1% 전망

The International Monetary Fund has slashed its economic forecast again,... citing the world's ongoing fight to combat the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lee Seung-jae reports.
With no slowdown in the number of COVID-19 infections worldwide,... the International Monetary Fund on Wednesday released it revised outlook on global economic growth.
The IMF lowered its outlook for the entire world,... from negative three-percent in April to negative four-point-nine percent in June.
It also downwardly revised its forecast for next year,... from five-point-8 percent growth,... to five-point-four percent.
Among the countries with the biggest downward revisions,... the U.S.,... which has the highest number of confirmed infections in the world,... and is still seeing tens of thousands of cases a day,... saw its June revision at negative 8-percent compared to the negative five-point-nine percent forecast made in April.
The IMF also predicts that the U.S.'s economy will grow 4-point-5 percent in 2021,... down point-two percent from April.
The IMF also issued a downward revision for South Korea,... predicting negative two-point-one percent growth for 2020,... while forecasting 3-percent growth in 2021,... down point-four percent from its earlier predictions.
The IMF says the COVID-19 pandemic had a more negative impact on activity in the first half of 2020 than anticipated,... adding the recovery is projected to be more gradual than previously forecast.
The Washington-based institution also explained that the latest downward revisions were due to social distancing measures likely remaining in place during the second half of the year.
It added that it expects nations still grappling with high infection rates to see a bigger dent in their economic activity with longer lockdowns in place.
Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News.