2015 economic outlook mixed for Americas

Consensus shows better growth than other parts of world.    Economic growth looks relatively healthy in North and South America, according to a basket of forecasts compiled by engineering and infrastructure consulting firm WorleyParsons.
   While Europe is in the doldrums and growth in Asia slows, the Americas are expected to expand, according to a consensus of opinion from the International Monetary Fund, Latin Focus, Trading Economics, BBVA, Focus Economics, JP Morgan, and the Royal Bank of Montreal.

	2014	2015
Colombia	4.6%	4.8%
Chile	4.6%	5%
Costa Rica	3.7%	4.3%
Mexico	2.9%	3.5%
Panama	7%	6.5%
Peru	5.5%	4.9%
U.S.	2.3%	3.3%
Canada	2.3%	2.0%
Argentina	-0.7%	-1.0%
Brazil	1.3%	1.6%
Venezuela	-0.5%	-1.0%

   The data was part of a presentation by John Pauling, vice president of transportation for WorleyParsons, at a port industry conference in Tampa.
   It suggests that trade within the United States and Latin America will also grow modestly, considering that almost two-thirds of global Gross Domestic Product is based on trade.

Correction: A previous version of the consensus “forecast of forecasts” for economic growth in the Americas showed projected U.S. GDP in 2015 at 2.0. The real estimate is for 3.3 percent growth.