Economists predict 2% GDP for 2020

Portuguese economists predict that the government’s 2% growth target is feasible and could even reach 2% in line with Brussels forecasts.

“After growth of 2.1% in the first quarter and 1.9% in the second quarter, the Government’s target of 2% is perfectly feasible and probably will be exceeded” says António Ascensão, coordinator of the ISEG’s Economic Analysis Group.
The economist adds that, “This would be in line with recent upward reviews to forecasts from the Bank of Portugal and European Commission which have now set their growth forecasts at 2% this year.
António Asensão Costa said that for now ISEG believes that it is more probable that GDP growth values for 2019 will be 1.9% to 2.0% overall.
“Our annual forecast for 2019 is for a GDP growth of 2% so that the Government’s target is doable” he told the Lusa news agency and that the economy only had to grow 0.22% in the third and fourth quarters to achieve that.”
Pedro Brinca and João Duarte, Novo SBE economists also forecast GDP growth levels in line with those of the European Commission – 2%.
The most optimistic forecast for Portugal’s economic growth for 2019 from Portuguese economists was from the Universidade Católica. “We think that a growth of 2.1% is more probable for 2019” said João Borges de Assunção, a professor from the university.