Viennese analysts see slowdown

Romanian GDP will grow 4% this year, 0.5% slower than in 2002, with this level to maintain over the next year, as well, a report of the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies (WIIW) shows. The WIIW analysts estimate the average inflationary rate to reach 18% in 2003 and 15% in 2004. Romania’s budget for 2003 is built around 5.2% economic growth and 17.7% annual inflation. Romania’s growth rate this year, although projected to slow down, remains above the average of the CEE countries. The GDP growth pace is also one of the highest in the region, compared with the other states considered, such as the Czech Republic – 2.8%, Hungary – 3.8%, Bulgaria – 4.5%, Slovakia – 3.5%. The WIIW analysts forecast inflation to remain the highest in the entire region, though. ZF