Better than expected. For the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the future of the world economy is a little less bleak than what was envisaged three months ago: in 2012 world GDP will grow by 3,5%, less than the 3,9% recorded last year, but more than the 3,3% expected in January. This can be read in the new World Economic Outlook published by the Washington Institute, which is also optimistic for 2013: it has revised its estimate upwards to 4,1% compared to 4% in January.
This improvement, even if still "very weak", is due to the advanced countries. The slowdown is in fact due to the emerging countries which are progressing at a slower pace than last year (5,7% compared to 6,2% in 2011), with the slowdown in China in the lead (only +8,2%).
For Italy, the news continues to be not too optimistic: in 2012, GDP will drop by 1,9% and not the previously expected 2,2%, but still worse than -1,7% estimated by Prometia. Also the Spain according to the IMF, it will mark a -1,8%, slightly more than the estimate of the Rajoy government (-1,7%). They tow Europe instead Germany and France which will see an increase in GDP of 0,6% and 0,5% respectively. As for the Eurozone as a whole, Fund experts reduce the possibility of a recession by 50%, but maintain a negative forecast (-0,3%).
Well instead the United States, which will grow by 2,1% and the Japan (+ 2%).
