Economists of the investment houses that follow the Portuguese econonomia are more optimistic. The GDP will grow 1.5% in 2015 and 1.8% in 2016.

Economists investment banks that follow the Portuguese economy are more optimistic about the evolution of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) this year and in 2016, although pointing to a slower decline in unemployment.

The average estimate of 22 economists surveyed by Bloomberg panel indicates that the Portuguese GDP to grow 1.5% in 2015 and 1.8% in 2016. The forecast reflects an improvement of two tenths against estimates of the previous quarterly survey.

The new estimate for this year is in line with official forecasts of most organisms. Government, IMF and the European Commission point to a growth of 1.5% in the Portuguese GDP. If this happens, will be the strongest growth of the Portuguese economy since 2010 and the second consecutive year of positive change.

Pessimism in unemployment
If the forecasts for GDP were improved, the estimates for unemployment consulted economists are now more pessimistic. The rate is expected to fall to 13.4% in 2015 and to 13.1% in 2016, when the previous survey economists pointed to a rate below 13%.

Only in 2017, according to the same economists, the unemployment rate in Portugal will be below 13% (11.9% in that year).

The panel of economists admits that Portugal will close this year with a deficit of 3% of GDP, below the previous estimate of 3.3% but above the 2.4% registered in the State Budget. As for other indicators, economists surveyed by Bloomberg show a zero inflation rate this year and 0.9% in 2016, predicting that the current account is expected to generate a surplus of 1% (2015) and 1.2% (2016).

[Source]