BNR Official: Romania Current Account Gap Seen At 4.6% Of GDP In ’09

Speaking in an economic seminar, Popa said the external deficit is estimated at 4.8% of GDP in 2010. He said Romania's economy would grow by 0.5%-1.5% in 2010, adding that is his personal forecast and it doesn't reflect the central bank's official stance in the matter. Romania's current account deficit tightened 74.6% in the first nine months of 2009 to EUR3.31 billion, from almost EUR13.04 billion in the same period a year earlier. The International Monetary Fund estimated Romanian current account deficit will reach 5.5% of GDP at year-end. For 2010, the IMF forecasts an economic growth of 0.5%.