Brasília – For the third consecutive week, financial market analysts polled by the Brazilian Central Bank have maintained their forecast of economic growth this year at 1.57%. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth projection for 2012 has also been maintained at 4%. The latter estimate has remained the same for nine weeks now.
The figures were culled from the Central Bank’s Focus bulletin, which is released to financial institutions every Monday. The projected decline in industrial output this year was revised from 1.92% to 2%. In 2013, a recovery is expected with 4.15% growth, as against a previous forecast of 4.1%.
The dollar is expected to remain equivalent to R$ 2 by the end of both 2012 and 2013. The trade surplus forecast (exports minus imports) was maintained at US$ 18 billion for this year and revised from US$ 14.2 billion to US$ 14.57 billion in 2013.
The expected foreign direct investment (funds invested in the country’s productive sector) went from US$ 57 billion to US$ 58.8 billion this year and was maintained at US$ 60 billion in 2013.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
