IMF Lowers Global Growth Forecast by Most in Three Years | Andrew Mayeda

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economic downturn Jan. 20, 2015 (Bloomberg) -- The IMF made the steepest cut to its global-growth outlook in three years, with diminished expectations almost everywhere except the U.S. more than offsetting the boost to expansion from lower oil prices.

The world economy will grow 3.5 percent in 2015, down from the 3.8 percent pace projected in October, the International Monetary Fund said in its quarterly global outlook released late Monday in Washington. The Washington-based lender also cut its estimate for growth next year to 3.7 percent, compared with 4 percent in October.

The weakness, along with prolonged below-target inflation, is challenging policy makers across Europe and Asia to come up with fresh ways to stimulate demand more than six years after the global financial crisis. Central bankers and government officials including Bank of England Governor Mark Carney and the Bank of Japan’s Haruhiko Kuroda may talk about options when they convene this week at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.