Economic Parameters

World economy growth

At the start of 2010, the global economy finds itself in a period of recovery. However, the rebound is still being bolstered by extremely expansive monetary policies with low interest rates and extensive government initiatives. For this reason, the upward trend cannot yet be said to be self-sustaining and it is possible that the economic recovery could soon lose momentum. Nevertheless, economic growth forecasts are cautiously optimistic. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is predicting an increase of 3.9% in global economic output in 2010. Against this backdrop, global trade can be expected to see moderate expansion (IMF: 5.8%, OECD: 6.0%).

Global economy: growth forecasts
%	2009	2010	2011
Global trade volume	−14.4	4.3	6.2
Real gross domestic product
World	−2.2	2.7	3.2
Industrialised countries	−3.3	1.8	2.3
Developing countries	1.2	5.2	5.8
East Asia and Pacific	6.8	8.1	8.2
South Asia	5.7	6.9	7.4
Europe & Central Asia	−6.2	2.7	3.6
Latin America & the Caribbean	−2.6	3.1	3.6
Middle East & Africa	2.9	3.7	4.4