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Date stated in the original: 30 April 2016. Review note: 6 November 2026.

The text of the original article

Bulgaria: economic forecasts for 2016 — image from the original website

The International Monetary Fund's spring economic report, published in April, appears more pessimistic overall: for the second time in a few months, the IMF revised its estimates for the global economy downwards, to 3.2% instead of 3.4%. Eurozone growth was also cut, from 1.7% (in January 2016) to 1.5%. Factors included the migration crisis, terrorism and the possible departure of Great Britain from the EU. Unlike the rather unoptimistic global and European outlook, the WEO tables show improved prospects for the Bulgarian economy, with expansion of 2.3% expected in 2016. The estimates were increased by 0.4% compared with the October 2015 report. Average annual inflation in 2016 will be 0.2%, accelerating to 1.2% in 2017. The unemployment rate will fall from 9.2% in 2015 to 8.6% in 2016 and 7.9% in 2017. The IMF forecasts are in line with those of the World Bank, which confirmed its estimates for the country's economic growth (2.2% in 2016 and 2.7%), and with those of Bulgaria's Ministry of Finance (2.1% in 2016 and 2.5% in 2017).