[ValkyrieLenneth]

The International Monetary Fund has upgraded Asia's growth outlook, saying economies in the region are the first to emerge from the global recession.

In its report on the Asia-Pacific economy released on Thursday, the IMF predicts growth of 2.8 percent this year, revising the previous forecast in May upward by 1.6 percentage points.

It also forecasts growth of 5.8 percent next year, up by 1.5 percentage points from the earlier forecast.

The fund says Asia's export-oriented economies have been energized thanks to global trade and finance, which are moving toward stability. It also says local economic measures have helped to stimulate domestic demand.

But the IMF says that Asia's exports will continue to be slow because consumer confidence is still weak in the United States and Europe.

It calls for continued stimulus measures until the recovery is well underway.

2009/10/29 22:14(JST)
(JST: UTC+9hrs.)

http://www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/29_32.html