IMF says Caribbean economies to grow in 2012 and 2013

BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, APRIL 18TH 2012 (CUOPM) – The Caribbean economy is expected to grow in this year and next year.

So says the Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF).

It says Latin America and the Caribbean is “on a glide path to steady growth” as the global economy picks up pace.

But the financial institution is warning that “dangers remain.”

In its latest, World Economic Outlook report, the IMF said the swings in risk aversion in global markets over the past six months have had significant effects on Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) forecasting “moderate” growth of 3.75 percent in the region this year and four percent in 2013.

Specifically, the Caribbean economy is expected to grow by 3.5 percent.

“High public debt and weak tourism and remittance flows continue to constrain the outlook for the Caribbean. The outlook for Central America, like that for Mexico, is closely tied to developments in the United States,” the IMF said, noting that “spillovers to the region, both real and financial, from renewed crisis in Europe are likely to be limited.”

The IMF said that among commodity exporters in LAC, strong domestic demand growth moderated, as tighter macroeconomic policies began to bear fruit and the external environment weakened.

And while economic activity in LAC is still subdued, strong real linkages with the United States “offer some upside prospects as the United States slowly recovers,” according to the report.

“Spillovers to the region through trade, financial, and banking channels were active during recent months but with only limited effects on activity,” the report said.