Taking Stock, July 2019 : Recent Economic Developments of Vietnam
The external environment has deteriorated during the first half of 2019, and downside riskspredominate in the near-term. Global GDP growth is projected to decline to 2.6 percent in 2019 from 3 percent in 2018, reflecting broad-based weakness in adv...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Report |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2019
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/821801561652657954/Taking-Stock-Recent-Economic-Developments-of-Vietnam-Special-Focus-Vietnams-Tourism-Developments-Stepping-Back-from-the-Tipping-Point-Vietnams-Tourism-Trends-Challenges-and-Policy-Priorities http://hdl.handle.net/10986/32045 |
| Summary: | The external environment has
deteriorated during the first half of 2019, and downside
riskspredominate in the near-term. Global GDP growth is
projected to decline to 2.6 percent in 2019 from 3 percent
in 2018, reflecting broad-based weakness in advanced
economies and major Emerging Market and Developing
Economies. Reflecting slower growth and heightened policy
uncertainty associated with protected trade tensions, global
trade growth is protracted to weaken further from 4.1
percent in 2018 to 2.6 percent in 2019. Downside risks
include a further escalation of trade disputes between the
world's two largest trading nations, while a more
pronounced downturn in global activity and increased
volatility in financial flows. Amidst rising global
headwinds, Vietnam's economic growth momentum has been
slowing since the beginning of the year. Vietnam's real
GDP growth has decelerated to a still robust 6.8 percent in
the first quarter of 2019 from a vibrant 7.5 percent pace in
the same period of 2018. Slower growth reflects several
factors. Agricultural output decelerated due to the outbreak
of African swine fever and a decline in international
prices. Weaker external demand moderated growth of the
export-oriented manufacturing sector as well as overall
export performance, even though Vietnam seems to have
benefitted from some trade diversion due to the ongoing
trade tensions between China and the US. Domestic investment
appears to be slowed resulting from subdued credit growth
and continued consolidation in public investment. Other
macroeconomic indicators, such as more sluggish credit
growth, subdued inflation and slower import growth are
further signs of a cyclical moderation in economic activity.
In contrast, service sector activity continues relatively
strong, signaling sustained buoyancy in private consumption.
Despite a recent uptick in headline inflation, price
pressures have remained subdued as credit growth moderated.
The headline CPI rose by 2.9 percent (y/y) in May 2019, up
slightly from 2.6 percent in January 2019, driven by hikes
in administered prices (for electricity and fuel) and
moderate food price increases. The State Bank of Vietnam
maintained a prudent monetary policy stance to support its
twin goals of sustaining macroeconomic stability and
supporting overall economic growth. Credit growth is
estimated to have slowed to about 13 percent (y/y) in March
2019 reflecting tighter credit policies. |
|---|