2006: Country by country.

2006: Country by country

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Edited by Daniel Franklin

[pounds sterling]355 Economist Intelligence Unit 

ISSN 1475-1321

2006: Country by Country, the well-established annual forecasting guide from the Economist Intelligence Unit, covers almost 200 countries, each with a concise assessment of the political and economic prospects for the year ahead together with key economic indicators and a summary of forecast numbers.

Highlights in the 2006 edition include reports that US growth is forecast to decelerate as monetary policy tightens to offset the effects of continued high oil prices, and that rising protectionist sentiment in the US and the EU will dampen growth in Latin America, as will a deteriorating financing environment.

Furthermore, oil-fuelled growth in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is forecast to slow as a deteriorating policy environment is preventing structural reform in key countries while a rising savings ratio will act as a drag on growth in some leading EU economies, with the stronger performance of new member states having little impact on EU's 25 member nation's aggregate growth.

A softening of global import demand will, it is forecast, weigh on export performance in Asia and Australasia, holding back growth despite another strong performance in China.

The Middle East and North Africa region will, the report suggests, grow at a steady pace on the back of high oil prices, but political and security risks remain acute throughout the region.

The report also points out that 16 countries in sub-Saharan Africa will face elections this year, most of which will easily be won by incumbent presidents and their parties.

The report's league table for 2006 real GDP growth forecasts four African countries in the top 10 countries. They are Mauritania 25%, Angola 11.4%, Chad 10%, and Sudan 9%.