IMF Chief: Uncertain Economic Times Ahead

De Rato Says Continued Growth Of Global Economy Can't Be Taken For Granted

(AP)  The global economy faces a period of uncertainty, with risks to continued growth much higher than they were six months ago, the head of the International Monetary Fund said Monday.

Spain's Rodrigo de Rato said recent turbulence in credit markets, the worst in a decade, is a warning that the continually expanding global economy of recent years cannot be taken for granted.

"We still do not know the full extent of the decline in the house market and the subprime problems of the U.S. economy," he said, referring to risky mortgages made to borrowers in the U.S. with spotty credit or low income.

He said further disruption in financial markets and further falls in housing prices could lead to a global economic downturn, making other risks - rising food and oil prices, a falling dollar - loom larger.

As a result of the turbulence, he said the IMF expects "a slowdown in growth but not a recession in the United States, and a smaller slowdown in other advanced economies."

De Rato spoke at the closing meetings of the IMF and its sister institution, the World Bank. It was his last address to the group; he is stepping down as the head of the 185-nation lending organization after 3½ years. His successor, France's Dominique Strauss-Kahn, takes over Nov. 1.

Groups demonstrating against global warming and war snarled traffic Monday around Capitol Hill, leading to dozens of arrests.

The protests were part of a series of demonstrations that have taken place in Washington since Friday, the first day of the annual meetings of the World Bank and the IMF. Most of the protests have been peaceful.

Monday's demonstrations, which involved several hundred people, were part of a "No Warming, No War" protest that combined an environmental agenda with an anti-war stand. The crowd included several people wearing polar bear suits and carrying a sign that read "Polar bears for solutions to war and global warming."

De Rato said that, so far, movements in currency exchange rates have been orderly, "but there are risks that an abrupt fall in the dollar could either by triggered by, or itself trigger, a loss of confidence in dollar assets.

"And there is a risk that exchange rate appreciation in countries with flexible exchange rates - including the euro area - could hurt their prospects, and that, in these circumstances, protectionist pressures could worsen."

He likened the turmoil in credit markets to an earthquake. "Like most earthquakes, it has been something distant for most people, something they read about in the newspapers," he said. "But there is still a risk of aftershocks, and the full effects of the disruption we have already had will only be felt over time."

He told his audience of finance ministers and central bankers that, along with the IMF, they need to consider what actions to take to limit the damage and what lessons can be learned from the crisis.

Addressing his first plenary session of the two institutions, World Bank President Robert Zoellick said the bank had to stretch itself to become more relevant to the poor and middle income countries it tries to help.

Zoellick, a former U.S. diplomat, trade representative and investment banker who took over July 1., said the bank's main priorities would be combatting poverty, helping countries emerging from civil strife, promoting regional cooperation to combat disease and climate change, aiding the Arab World and providing technical assistance.

"There is a great need - and a compelling opportunity - for the World Bank group at this point in history," he said.

The IMF-World Bank meetings took place against a backdrop of soaring oil prices, a falling dollar and the worst credit crisis in a decade, brought when markets essentially froze.

The Group of 24 developing countries noted wryly in their communique that, for once, a financial crises began in one of the advanced nations instead of in Asia or Latin America, as has happened in the past.

[zootallures2]

"Continued Growth Of Global Economy Can''t Be Taken For Granted"

Are you running out of Iraqis? Paint up some Chinese and tell them the ride to the factory will be a little longer today. That should keep the war going until you can get away with blowing up the Sears tower to blame Iran.

[usayesterday]

As a result of the turbulence, he said the IMF expects "a slowdown in growth but not a recession in the United States, and a smaller slowdown in other advanced economies."
........

Whew! The IMF says there won''t be a recession. Now that will make me sleep better at night!...

.. N O T !

[savetheus2]

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[panhandlpete]

If truth, in its totality be known, there are probably some forces behind this ''uncertainty'' working toward a planned goal......say something like devalueing the dollar to force chaos and end up with a moneyless economy tied to technology and control. WOW!

[mediapreachr]

I like how they put a spin on the situation.
Not long ago it was 1 year predictions,now is every 6 months,and here in the USA is every week.
It''s easy to BS if every day they come out with another set of data.Also I like how food and energy are "out" of the Consumer Price Index-we are human beings and need food and energy-I know and you know that we got inflation but some "mouth" on TV keeps trying to take us as idiots.

[gunownerdan]

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[antoniof123]

Why do we always have someone trying to say something that was not said. Uncertain times in this case means out of the ordinary an out liner if you know what that means.

[feelfree1]

There is nothing "uncertain" about it. Finacial terrorism organizations like the IMF, and U.S. Corporate-style pirate capitalism, is in its final throes.

[matter77]

When has ANYONE known with certainty what the economy was going to do next? Uncertain times? The times have ALWAYS been uncertain. In fact, it''s always been the things no one saw coming that had the biggest effect. Now is no different.