The Central Bank says that inflation this year will be 10% more than originally estimated. The nation’s economic authorities are now forecasting year-end inflation of 45-50% instead of the 35% originally predicted. The Central Bank upheld its previous forecast of a 1% economic decline this year, despite second-quarter growth of 2.2% that pushed the first half of the year’s GDP to 0.8%. The Central Bank report only encompasses data until June 2004, and thus does not reflect any measures taken by the new administration.
For more on the report, see http://www.bancentral.gov.do/