Reuters poll graphic on monetary policy forecasts

BENGALURU, April 26 Reuters The global economy is likely to carry its solid momentum for the rest of the year and into 2025, defying earlier expectations of a slowdown, according to a Reuters poll of economists who said stronger growth than forecast was more likely than weakness.

That shift in the growth outlook brings its own set of challenges for central banks, which raised rates in quick succession to try and drive inflation down to target but now may have to wait even longer before considering rate reductions.

Among bigger economies, the United States and India were expected to contribute the most to the pickup in growth. There was no deterioration in the consensus view for the euro zone or No. 2 economy China either, according to a March 27April 25 Reuters poll of 500 economists covering 48 economies.

Global growth was forecast at 2.9 this year, faster than 2.6 in a January poll, followed by 3.0 in 2025. More than 90 of common contributors upgraded their views and still said there was a significant chance growth could be even stronger.

A 60 majority of economists, 98 of 162, said the global economy this year was more likely to grow faster than they expected than undercut their predictions.

We are continuing to be surprised by the resilience of the global economy. Now, part of that is we entered the year with subdued expectations, we thought that there would be a deceleration this year, said Nathan Sheets,…