The International Monetary Fund (IMF) lowered its outlook for global economic growth Tuesday due to "weaker-than-expected global activity," according to the October update of the World Economic Outlook (WEO).
"The first half of 2014, the growth forecast for the world economy has been revised downward to 3.3 percent for this year, 0.4 percentage point lower than in the April 2014 WEO," said the IMF. "The global growth projection for 2015 was lowered to 3.8 percent." The outlook cites short term risks from a," worsening of geopolitical tensions and a reversal of recent risk spread and volatility compression in financial markets." Whereas medium threats include, "stagnation and low potential growth in advanced economies and a decline in potential growth in emerging markets." In response to these risks, the WEO suggests raising actual and potential growth. In advanced economies this includes, "continued support from monetary policy and fiscal adjustment" and "supporting both the recovery and longterm growth." The IMF affirmed, "Overall, the pace of recovery is becoming more country specific."(