This paper discusses key findings of the Second Review Under the Stand-By Arrangement for Peru. The economy continued to perform well in 2004. Real GDP grew by 5.1 percent, inflation was 3.5 percent at end-December, and the fiscal deficit of the combined public sector narrowed to 1.1 percent of...

The staff report on Mexico’s 2008 Article IV Consultation focuses on economic and financial sector implications of the global crisis. Inflation has been anchored in a low range, and public and private balance sheets have been substantially strengthened. Most importantly, public external...

Peru’s macroeconomic policies continue to be strong under the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). Executive Directors appreciated the implementation of policies to entrench macroeconomic stability, lower poverty, and lessen vulnerabilities, and also emphasized the need to maintain a prudent...

The staff report for the Third Review under the Stand-By Arrangement and request for establishment of performance criteria focuses on Peru’s economic developments, outlook, and program for 2006. The Peruvian economy continues to perform well. Fiscal transparency has been increased,...

Portugal’s 2008 Article IV Consultation highlights that Portugal’s financial system remains sound and well supervised. Portugal has accumulated substantial macroeconomic imbalances, and the policy challenge is to smooth the adjustment, containing domestic demand while increasing...

The Republic of Estonia’s 2007 Article IV Consultation reports that surging domestic demand has widened the external current account deficit and pushed the economy against capacity constraints. Wage increases have begun to erode competitiveness and kept inflation above the Maastricht...

Jamaica has been stuck in a cycle of low growth and high debt dynamics. It has been severely impacted by the global economic slowdown, and finances have deteriorated. Jamaica’s objective of virtually eliminating the overall public sector deficit is appropriate. Embedding the medium-term...

Jamaica has performed well under the Stand-By Arrangement program. Executive Directors commended that overall macroeconomic performance under the program has been encouraging. Directors welcomed the program aimed at fiscal responsibility legislation and central treasury management, public debt...

This 2009 Article IV Consultation highlights that economic growth in the United Kingdom has turned sharply negative since mid-2008. Housing prices have fallen by more than 20 percent from their peak, the unemployment rate has increased, and inflation has come down. In response to the crisis, the...