July 5 (SeeNews) - The chief economists at Croatia's top four banks made a median forecast of 3.7% for the country's real economic growth in 2022, down from 4.6% they predicted in December, the Association of Croatian banks said on Tuesday.
"The range of GDP growth forecasts for this year is wider (compared to December): the biggest pessimist expects a 3.3% growth rate, while the biggest optimist predicts 4.1%," the association said in a press release, citing the findings of a survey of chief economists at Zagrebacka Banka, Privredna Banka Zagreb, Erste&Steriermaerskische Bank and Raiffeisenbank Austria Zagreb carried out in June.
For next year, the median forecast for the country's real economic growth is 3.2%, with projections ranging from 3.0% to 3.7%.
Croatia's economic output grew by a real 10.2% last year, after a contraction of 8.4% in 2020.
The chief economists at the four Croatian banks believe that inflation will reach 9.3% this year before slowing down to 4.2% next year.
Croatia's average annual inflation accelerated to 2.6% last year from 0.1% in 2020.
The central bank expects economic growth of over 5% this year and inflation close to 10%, and a possible recession next year, state-owned broadcaster HRT quoted central bank governor Boris Vujcic as saying on Sunday.