Brasilia – Financial institutions consulted by the Brazilian Central Bank (BC) expect the country’s economy to grow 1.95%, a slight reduction in relation to previous forecasts (2%). The estimate for 2013 is of 2.28%, against 2.30% as forecasted in the news bulletin Focus, released last week. The estimate for industrial production increase dropped from 2.23% to 2.20% this year.
The forecasts made by financial institutions for the relation between the public sector’s liquid debt and the GDP is of 35% in 2014. The trade balance surplus (exports minus imports) this year is still expected to reach US$ 8 billion.
The negative result in current transactions (buying and selling transactions of goods and services between Brazil and abroad) was adjusted from US$ 72 billion to US$ 71.3 billion in 2014. The forecast for the dollar exchange rate this year is still at R$ 2.45 to US$ 1.00. Expectations of direct foreign investments (resources directed to the country’s productive sector) was maintained at US$ 60 billion.
*Translated by Silvia Lindsey
