A MAJORITY of chief economists worldwide expect weaker global economic conditions in 2025 but India is likely to maintain a strong growth despite signs of some momentum being lost, a new report said on Thursday. In its latest Chief Economists Outlook, the World Economic Foru m said the global economy is set to face significant challenges in 2025, with 56 per cent of chief economists surveyed expecting conditions to weaken.

 

Only 17per centforesee animprovement,pointingtoheighteneduncertaintyinkeyregions and the need for measured policy responses worldwide, it found. The US economy is expected to deliver robust growth in 2025, and South Asia, particularly India, is also expected to maintain strong growth. The outlook for Europe remains gloomy, with 74 per cent of respondents predicting weak or very weak growth this year . The outlook for China also remains weak, and growth is projected to slow gradually in the years ahead, the WEFsaidinthereportprepared on the basis of consultations and surveys with leading chief economists from both the public and private sectors across the globe.

 

The report further said South Asia continues to stand out, with 61 per cent of chief economists expecting strong or very strong growth in 2025. “Thisregionalperformancehasbeendriven largely by robust growth in India, which remains the world’s fastest-growing majo r economy. However, there are now signs of some momentum being lost,” it said. ThelatestnationalaccountsdataforIndia point to year-on-year GDP (gross domestic product) growth of 5.4 per cent in the thir d quarter of 2024, the slowest rate in nearly two years, prompting a downward revision to the central bank’s annual growth forecast in December.