IMF trims outlook for world growth

The International Monetary Fund has trimmed its forecasts for 2008 and 2009 world economic growth in a note prepared for a meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) nations, a G20 finance official told Reuters on Monday.

The IMF is forecasting world growth this year of 3.9 percent, down from an estimate of 4.1 percent in its World Economic Outlook last month, said the official, who is involved in planning for the meeting and spoke on condition of anonymity.

It forecasts 2009 growth of 3.7 percent, down from 3.9 percent.

The IMF left unchanged its forecast for U.S. growth this year at 1.3 percent, said the official. It shaved its forecast for 2009 U.S. growth to 0.7 percent from 0.8 percent.

The IMF trimmed its forecast for euro zone growth this year to 1.4 percent from 1.7 percent in July. It estimated 2009 growth at 0.9 percent, down from 1.2 percent.

Deputy finance ministers from the G20, a group of emerging and industrialised economies, will meet in Rio de Janeiro next weekend.