IMF sets Dominican Republic’s growth at 5%+: EFE

Washington.-Central America’s economy continues its good growth trend as a whole with 3.9% in 2016 and 4.1% in2017, after 4.2% in 2015, with Panama and Dominican Republic heading the expansionboth surpassing 5%, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said Tuesday, EFE reports.

Inits Global Economic Prospects report released today by the IMF at the start of itsjoint annual meeting with the World Bank (WB), held this week, the entity alsoestimates for the Dominican Republic solid growth, exceeding 5% this year.

"Theaverage growth of the Central American countries however will lead to risinginflationary pressures, as the agency expects last year’s price index of 1.4%will rise to 2.5% this year and 3% the next," the report said.

LeadingCentral America’s and the Caribbean’s growthis the Dominican Republic, which will close this year with a strong increase inGDP of 5.9%, but the trend is expectedto decelerate with expected growth at 4.5% next year.

Panama,the major regional engine, "will post lower rates than the Asian figuresof past years" and is expected to grow 5.2% in 2016 and 5.8% in 2017.

Nicaraguafollows with a projected GDP growth of 4.5% this year and 4.3% next year;followed by Costa Rica, which the Fund estimates at 4.2% and 4.3%,respectively.