MILAN (AFX) - The Italian government has cut to 1.3 pct from 1.5 pct its GDP growth forecast for 2006, press reports said Sunday citing preliminary figures of a survey on the state of public finances in the first quarter.
The revised estimates were disclosed by economy minister Giulio Tremonti, who on Friday said that he sees the 2006 public deficit at 3.8 pct of GDP, against a previous government forecast of 3.5 pct.
In 2005, Italy's GDP growth was flat and the public deficit 4.1 pct of GDP, according to data released last month by the statistics office ISTAT. danilo.masoni@afxnews.com dm/bam COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2005. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited