The IMF's View Brightens: Takeaways From World Economic Outlook

  • Fund sees no rush for central banks to hike with inflation low
  • China upgrade accompanied by warning of a ‘sharp’ slowdown

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Photographer: Craig Warga/Bloomberg
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The IMF lifted its global growth forecast amid a broad global recovery. But the fund is urging policy makers to take action now to boost economic potential. Here are five takeaways from the fund’s World Economic Outlook:

The IMF devotes considerable space to the persistence of low inflation in advanced economies, a trend that has baffled central bankers. In short, the fund doesn’t see the rush to raise rates, given that inflation remains below central-bank targets in many countries. The IMF downgraded its global inflation forecast for both this year and next, partly due to lower-than-expected oil prices.