News | Latest Breaking News Stories & Headlines

The IMF has declined to predict a tariff-driven GDP downgrade similar to that released by the World Bank this week

IMF says July forecasts to take into account trade deals

The International Monetary Fund said its next global growth forecast in July will take into account both positive and negative trade developments but declined to predict a tariff-driven GDP downgrade similar to that released by the World Bank this week.

Business • 13 Jun

"I acknowledge the IMF's recommendation of a broadly neutral fiscal stance for the upcoming budget and five-year fiscal plan" - Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe

Irish economy entered 2025 in strong position - IMF

The Irish economy has performed well, with the domestic economy, as measured by the Modified Gross National Income, estimated to have grown by about 4% in 2024, according to the International Monetary Fund's annual review of the Irish economy

Business • 11 Jun

Not a single US trade deal was finalised over the course of the week's IMF and World Bank meetings

IMF-World Bank meetings end with little tariff clarity

Global finance leaders came to Washington last week seeking clarity on what it would take to get some relief from President Donald Trump's multi-layered tariff assault and on just how much pain it will bring to the world economy.

Business • 28 Apr

The IMF's latest Fiscal Monitor projected that global public debt will grow 2.8 percentage points to 95.1% of global GDP this year

Tariff pressures to push public debt past Covid levels

Economic pressures from steep new US tariffs will push global public debt above pandemic-era levels to nearly 100% of global GDP by the end of the decade as slower growth and trade strain government budgets, the International Monetary Fund said today.

Business • 23 Apr

Georgieva said countries' economies were being tested by a reboot of the global trading system

IMF does not expect global recession

Rising trade tensions and sweeping shifts in the global trading system will trigger downward revisions of the IMF's economic forecasts but no global recession is expected, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said today.

Business • 17 Apr

IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva (l) and ECB President Christine Lagarde in Davos today

IMF chief tells Europe to take page out of US book

With the European economy lagging behind the US, the head of the International Monetary Fund had a piece advice for the continent on Friday: "Believe in yourself."

Business • 24 Jan

Global growth is projected to be 3.2% in 2025, one-tenth of a percentage point lower than forecast in July, the IMF said today

IMF lifts US growth forecast but cuts euro zone and China

The International Monetary Fund has today raised its 2024 economic growth forecasts for the US, Brazil and Britain but cut them for China, Japan and the euro zone, adding that risks abound from armed conflicts, potential new trade wars and the hangover from tight monetary policy.

Business • 22 Oct 24

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said the world's economy was headed for slow medium-term growth

IMF, World Bank meetings clouded by wars, US election

Global finance chiefs will gather in Washington this week amid intense uncertainty over wars in the Middle East and Europe, a flagging Chinese economy and worries that a coin-toss US presidential election could ignite new trade battles and erode multilateral cooperation.

Business • 21 Oct 24

Gita Gopinath, deputy first managing director of the IMF

Fiscal councils absolutely essential IMF deputy MD claims

A senior official with the International Monetary Fund has said that fiscal councils are "absolutely essential" in ensuring that economic forecasts by governments are reasonable.

Business • 18 Sep 24

The IMF has increased its projection for British economic growth in 2024 to 0.7% from an April forecast of 0.5%

IMF warns Britain against more pre-election tax cuts

The International Monetary Fund warned Britain's government today that it was on course to miss its debt target and should not cut taxes before an election later this year, with tax rises likely to be needed in future.

Business • 21 May 24

2023's 'recession' may be the most peculiar the Irish economy has ever experienced

2023 sees end of economic boom but no sign of bust yet

The revision of national accounts data by the Central Statistics Office in early December confirmed the economy officially entered a recession this year.

Business • 23 Dec 23

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe says there is no vacancy at the IMF at present

Donohoe won't rule himself out of running for IMF job

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe has refused to categorically rule himself out of the running to be the next Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund.

Business • 06 Dec 23

The IMF left its forecast for global real GDP growth in 2023 unchanged

IMF cuts growth forecast for China and euro area

The International Monetary Fund has today cut its growth forecasts for China and the euro area and said overall global growth remained low and uneven despite what it called the "remarkable strength" of the US economy.

Business • 10 Oct 23

UK gross domestic product will expand by an estimated 0.6% in 2024, the IMF said today

UK set to have weakest growth among G7 in 2024 - IMF

Britain is set to have the slowest-growing economy among the Group of Seven nations next year - when the country is likely to choose a new government - according to forecasts published by the International Monetary Fund today.

Business • 10 Oct 23

The overall picture painted by the WEO is a gloomy one, with global growth forecast to slow in both the short and medium terms

IMF lowers 2023 global growth forecast to 2.8%

The International Monetary Fund slightly lowered its outlook for the global economy, while predicting that most countries will avoid a recession this year despite economic and geopolitical concerns.

Business • 12 Apr 23

The IMF has predicted that global growth would accelerate slightly to 3.1% in 2024

IMF lifts 2023 growth forecast on China reopening

The International Monetary Fund has today raised its 2023 global growth outlook slightly due to "surprisingly resilient" demand in the US and Europe, an easing of energy costs and the reopening of China's economy after Beijing abandoned its strict Covid-19 restrictions.

Business • 31 Jan 23

Kristalina Georgieva, the IMF's chief, is attending Davos 2023

IMF's Georgieva says outlook less bad than feared

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said today that the economic outlook was less bad than feared a couple of months ago.

Business • 20 Jan 23

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva addressed the Davos gathering today

Global growth to bottom out this year - IMF's Georgieva

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said today that global economic growth was expected bottom out in 2023 despite the continued Ukraine war and rising interest rates.

Business • 17 Jan 23

Oil prices settled more than 2% higher on Friday

Oil prices slide on China worries, IMF warning

Oil prices edged lower today in volatile trade as weak demand data from China and a gloomy economic outlook weighed.

Business • 03 Jan 23

IMF chief wants central banks to keep raising rates

International Monetary Fund chief Kristalina Georgieva has said that central banks should keep raising interest rates further to fight inflation until they hit a "neutral" level, though in most cases they have not reached this point.

Business • 26 Oct 22

Much of the impact of this economic downturn will be borne by the Developing World.

IMF and World Bank warn of recession next year

The leaders of the IMF and World Bank have said much of the world will slide into recession next year, and that lost output between now and 2026 will amount to some four trillion dollars – equivalent to the entire German economy.

Business • 10 Oct 22

The Fund cut its 2023 growth forecast to 2.9% from the April estimate of 3.6%, citing the impact of tighter monetary policy.

IMF cuts global growth forecasts, warns of recession

The International Monetary Fund cut global growth forecasts again today, warning that downside risks from high inflation and the Ukraine war were materialising and could push the world economy to the brink of recession if left unchecked.

Business • 26 Jul 22

The island nation of 22 million people is scrambling to get fuel shipments

IMF delegation arrives in crisis-hit Sri Lanka

An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team began bailout talks in Sri Lanka today, with police called to escort a top government official to the negotiations after protesters angry about the economic crisis blockaded the finance ministry.

Business • 20 Jun 22

Some economists estimate the cost of rebuilding Ukraine at between €1-€2 trillion, though no estimate can be reliable while the war is going on

EU plans €9 billion in loans for Ukraine

The European Commission has proposed an extra €9 billion in EU loans to Ukraine in 2022 to keep the country running and to set up a 'RebuildUkraine' Facility of grants and loans, modelled on the EU's own recovery fund.

Business • 18 May 22

The IMF highlights gaps which it says exist in investments in social services

IMF: Irish economy to grow, inflation to fall next year

The International Monetary Fund has said growth in the Irish economy is expected to "remain strong" but it warned that risks are "tilted to the downside".

Economy • 06 May 22