The World Bank Brightens Its Global Economic Outlook for 2023

Washington, DC, June 7, 2023-"The World Bank sees better global economic growth than previously estimated in 2023, thanks to resilient U.S. consumer spending and China’s faster-than-expected reopening in the early part of the year,” reports the Wall Street Journal.

“The bank still expects slowing growth in the second half of this year and a muted expansion into next year, according to its forecast released Tuesday. It warned that stubbornly high inflation and interest-rate increases are weighing on economic activity around the world, particularly in developing countries.

“The bank now projects the world’s economy will grow 2.1% this year, up from the 1.7% pace it forecast in January. The new estimate still marks a slowdown from last year’s 3.1% expansion.

“‘The global economy remains in a precarious state,’ the multilateral lender said in the latest issue of its semiannual Global Economic Prospects report. The bank noted overlapping negative shocks from the pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the sharp tightening of monetary policy.

“The bank forecasts growth of 2.4% next year-a pickup from this year, but not as much as its January estimate of 2.7%.”