SINGAPORE - While trade tensions between the United States and China could ease, key economists shaved more off their forecast for 2019 economic growth, the latest Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) survey shows.
A big downside risk is protectionism, they added.
For 2018, the economy is expected to grow by 3.3 per cent, a tad above the 3.2 per cent forecast made in September.
But growth is tipped to slow to 2.6 per cent in 2019, down from the 2.7 per cent expansion predicted previously, according to the survey findings released on Wednesday (Dec 12).
These figures show economists agree with the Government's forecast of between 3 and 3.5 per cent growth for 2018, and slowing to between 1.5 and 3.5 per cent next year.
The latest poll show that rising trade protectionism remains a key concern among the 23 economists and analysts polled.