lower oil prices will help reduce inflation and external
vulnerabilities, thereby reducing pressure on central
banks to raise policy interest rates. Structural reforms to
raise productivity, with a varied agenda across countries, are of the essence to sustain potential output.
Recent Developments and Prospects
The World Economy in Recent Months
Four key developments have shaped the global outlook since the release of the October 2014 WEO.
Uneven Global Growth, Slower Infl ation in 2014
While preliminary statistics indicate that global
growth in the second half of 2014 was broadly in line
with the October 2014 projections (Figure 1.1), these
broad numbers masked marked growth surprises pointing to more divergence among major economies, with
the U.S. recovery stronger than expected, but economic performance in many other parts of the world
falling short of expectations. Specifi cally:
• Growth in the United States was stronger than
expected, averaging about 4 percent annualized in
the last three quarters of 2014. Consumption—the
main engine of growth—has benefited from steady
job creation and income growth, lower oil prices,
and improved consumer confidence. The unemployment rate declined to 5.5 percent in February, more
than 1 percentage point below its level of a year ago.
• In Japan, after a weak second half of the year,
growth in 2014 was close to zero, reflecting
weak consumption and plummeting residential
investment.
• In the euro area, activity was weaker than expected
in the middle part of 2014 but showed signs of a
pickup in the fourth quarter and in early 2015,
with consumption supported by lower oil prices and
higher net exports.
• Although activity was broadly in line with the
forecast, investment growth in China declined in
the second half of 2014, reflecting a correction in