Brasília – Financial market analysts consulted by the Central Bank (BC) are expecting the Brazilian economy to grow less than previously forecasted. The growth estimate for the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is the sum of all products and services produced in the country, dropped from 3.2% to 3.09% this year.
The Central Bank’s Economic Activity Index (IBC-Br) issued last Friday (18th) indicated that the Brazilian economy’s rate of growth has slowed down. In the first quarter, the index was up 0.15% compared with the last quarter of last year. The growth was lower than the 0.2% rate recorded from the third to the fourth quarter of last year.
The BC’s survey of financial market analysts also shows that the industrial production growth forecast has been revised from 1.94% to 1.58%, this year and from 3.95% to 4.2% in 2013.
The exchange rate by the end of the year has been maintained at 1.85 real to one dollar, both in 2012 and 2013. The trade surplus forecast (positive result for exports minus imports) has been adjusted from US$ 19.22 billion to US$ 20 billion in 2012, and from US$ 14.9 billion to US$ 15 billion next year.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
