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IMF Lowers Bulgaria’s 2026 Growth Forecast to 2.6%

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A boulevard in central Sofia at dusk with Vitosha mountain behind Economy
A boulevard in central Sofia at dusk with Vitosha mountain behind

The Fund raised its inflation forecast to 4.9% and now expects a current account deficit of 8% of GDP.

The International Monetary Fund expects Bulgaria’s economy to grow by 2.6% in 2026, down from the 2.8% it forecast in April, according to the October World Economic Outlook, BTA reported. For 2027, the Fund raised its growth forecast from 2.5% to 2.7%.

The inflation forecast for 2026 rose from 3.8% to 4.9%, and for 2027 from 3.7% to 4.8%. The IMF now expects a current account deficit of 8% of GDP in 2026, double its April forecast of 4%, and 6.6% in 2027. Unemployment is forecast at 3.4% this year and 3.3% next year.

For the euro area as a whole, the IMF forecasts growth of 1.1% and inflation of 3.1% in 2026.

Other forecasts for Bulgaria’s 2026 growth range from 2.6% at the World Bank and 2.7% at the EBRD to 3% in the Ministry of Finance’s autumn forecast.

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