IMF slashes global economic growth forecast as inflation caused by Russia war sparks 'clear and present danger'

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) cited Russia's war in Ukraine, and warning that inflation was now a "clear and present danger" for many countries.

The war is expected to slow growth and further increase inflation, the IMF said in its latest World Economic Outlook, while warning that its forecast was marked by "unusually high uncertainty".

Further sanctions on Russian energy and a widening of the war, a sharper-than-forecast deceleration in China and a renewed flare-up of the pandemic could further slow growth and boost inflation, while rising prices could trigger social unrest.

The global lender, which downgraded its forecasts for the second time this year, said it now projects global growth of 3.6 percent in 2022 and 2023, a drop of 0.8 and 0.2 percentage point from its January forecast, given the war’s direct impacts on Russia and Ukraine and global spillovers.

Medium-term global growth is expected to decline to about 3.3 percent over the medium-term, compared to an average of 4.1 percent in the period from 2004 to 2013, and growth of 6.1 percent in 2021.