ECONOMIC FORECASTS

ECONOMIC FORECASTS Every month The Economist surveys a group of economic forecasters and calculates the average of their predictions for economic growth, inflation and current-account balances for 15 countries and for the euro area. The table also shows the highest and lowest forecasts of growth. The previous month's forecasts, where different, are shown in brackets. This month our panel cut their forecasts for current-account deficits in 2000 and 2001 for Britain and the United States; and it raised forecasts for surpluses in Belgium, Denmark, France and Switzerland. Despite news of strong growth in America's GDP so far this year, average predictions for growth in 2000 and 2001 were unchanged. The lowest estimate for American growth in 2000 fell, surprisingly, from 4.6% to 3.2%.