Stats show Economy Min. on target to hit macroeconomic forecasts for 2000

"Alarmist and pessimistic forecasts did not turn out to be true. An increase of gross domestic product (GDP) by 6% allows predictions that an annual growth of GDP by 5.2% can be realized by the end of 2000," said Economy Minister Janusz Steinhoff. "The main drive for the economy is exports and political fluctuations do not influence the Polish economy any longer and this is a very good sign for our partners," said deputy Economy Minister Jerzy Eysymontt. The Ministry predicts that the current account deficit will reach 8% of GDP or lower and inflation will certainly fall below 10%. Industry drove the economy with production growing by 10.2% after the first half of 2000. The biggest growth was by enterprises producing raw materials which increased by about 16% and by industries producing value-added goods which increased by 14%. The mining industry share in total production decreased from 5.9 to 5.6% and the processing industry stake increased from 83.2% to 83.5%. Productivity increased by about 18% in the first half of this year along with a drop in average employment by 6.4%. (Prawo i Gospodarka, page 1,2) M.M.