The IMF sees Israel's unemployment rising to 5.9% this year and falling to 5.8% in 2012.
The IMF predicts that Israel's GDP growth will slow to 3.2% in 2012 from 4.8% in 2011. The figures appear in the World Economic Outlook for September 2011, published on the eve of the World Bank-IMF Annual Meeting.
The IMF also says that Israel's inflation rate will rise from 2.7% in 2010 to 3.4% in 2011 and fall back to 1.6% in 2012. It predicts that Israel's unemployment will fall from an average of 6.7% in 2010 to 5.9% in 2011 and 5.8% in 2012.
The IMF predicts that Iraq will have the fastest GDP growth in the Middle East, at 9.6% in 2011 and 12.5% in 2012. It predicts that Egypt, in the wake of the collapse of the Mubarak regime, will see its GDP growth rate tumble from 5.1% in 2010 to 1.2% this year and 1.8% in 2012, mainly due to the slump in tourism.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on September 20, 2011
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