The intensity with which the spread of the pandemic has picked up again in recent weeks, particularly in Europe, and the associated high levels of uncertainty risk producing further slowdowns in production and in the demand for goods and services in the short term, with negative consequences on the outlook for the global economy next year as well.
The Bank projects economic growth of 3.2 per cent in 2006, 2.9 per cent in 2007, and 2.8 per cent in 2008.