Interest rates predicted at around 8.7% by end of 2002, inflation at 4.7%

According to a Reuters poll released yesterday, 14 out of 16 analysts expect the central bank's Monetary Policy Council (RPP) to cut its main interest ra te by 150 base points at its next meeting later this month. The central bank 's main market rate, now at 11.5%, is seen trimmed to 8.7% by the end of 200 2. The poll also predicts that the dollar will cost zl.4.29 at the end of De cember 2002. The analysts expect inflation to be at around 4.7%. As for fore ign trade, they believe that soon-to-be-released central bank and Central St atistical Office (GUS) figures will reveal that exports rose 8.0% in 2001 an d imports 2.6%, which would mean a narrowing of the trade gap to $6.8 billio n, from $9.9 billion in 2000. (Rzeczpospolita, p. B5; Reuters) A.K.