2007s GDP Growth got close to 2004s 5.7%
Folha de S. Paulo - 03/02/2008
The government's economic team already has the preliminary figures of the country's growth last year. The estimates indicate the GDP may have had an increase above the projections of the market, which are near 5%. The preliminary studies have indicated that the Brazilian GDP (Gross Domestic Product) must have registered growth very close to the 5.7% seen in 2004. The calculations may indicate that the GDP may have increased between 5.5% and 5.6%. The result of the GDP last year will be released by IBGE on March 12th. Should the estimate of the government's economic team be confirmed, the Brazilian GDP will reach the mark of R$ 2.6 trillion (US$ 1.5 trillion). In 2006, the value of the GDP was R$ 2.3 trillions (US$ 1.1 trillion). The major point of the GDP may be the growth on investments, which may reach a more significant increase compared to the expectations of the market. The most interesting is, according to the information gathered by the government's economic team, that the economy, in 2008, has been sustaining a very strong rhythm of growth. Every index is highly positive for these two first months of the year. An important signal is presented by the numbers from tax collection. After the record registered in the first month of the year - the ever best January of history -, the first indications are that the same thing may have happened in February. With that, the government is on its way to registering, for the second time in a row, a nominal surplus in February.