CB states economy will grow 'near 9%' this year

The Central Bank foresees that the country’s economic growth will “be near 9 percent” in 2011, over the 8.3 percent estimated by the government, according to a quarterly report issued by CB Governor Mercedes Marcó del Pont.

“The local demand keeps on sustaining the growth of the local economic activity,” the Inflation Report of the fourth quarter of the year stated. “Private consumption is still the main driving force of the economy,” it continued.

Last year, the economy grew 9.2 percent and the government estimated that it would expand 8.3 percent this year and over 5.1 percent in 2012.