MADRID, July 31, 2008 (AFP) - Spain's second-largest bank BBVA on Thursday cut its economic growth forecast for Spain for this year and the next and predicted unemployment could surpass 14 percent by the end of 2009 in the eurozone's fourth largest economy.

VILNIUS, July 25, 2008 (AFP) - Lithuania's central bank cut its 2008 growth forecast on Friday to 6.0 percent from 6.6 percent, citing falling domestic demand in the latest sign of a slowdown in the EU's Baltic 'tiger' economies.

MADRID, July 24, 2008 (AFP) - The Spanish government on Thursday slashed its economic growth forecasts for 2008 and 2009 and predicted a sharp rise in unemployment, as high oil prices and the international credit crunch batter the country's once-booming economy.

MADRID, July 24, 2008 (AFP) - The Spanish government slashed its economic growth forecasts for this year and next and predicted a rise in unemployment in 2009.

The government said growth in 2008 would be 1.6 percent rather than 2.6 percent as previously forecast.

MADRID, July 24, 2008 (AFP) - The Spanish government slashed its economic growth forecast for this year to 1.6 percent on Thursday from 2.3 percent, due to the country's sharp economic downturn.

Economy Minister Pedro Solbes 'has presented to the cabinet a growth prediction for this year of 1.6 percent,' Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega told a news conference.

TOKYO, July 22, 2008 (AFP) - Japan's economy is set to grow by 1.3 percent this fiscal year, much less than previously expected as soaring commodity and food costs hit companies and consumers, the government said Tuesday.

TOKYO, July 22, 2008 (AFP) - Japan's economy is forecast to grow by 1.3 percent in the current fiscal year to March, much less than previously expected due to tough business conditions, the government said Tuesday.

FRANKFURT, July 21, 2008 (AFP) - German second-quarter economic growth was very likely weaker than in the first three months of the year, the central bank or Bundesbank said Monday.

'In the spring, the German economy probably did not retain the high level of the first quarter, when it posted a strong growth rate of 1.5 percent,' a statement said.

LONDON, July 20, 2008 (AFP) - Britain's economic 'horror movie' will continue in the months to come, with growth slowing considerably, while unemployment will rise and inflation will remain above government targets, an influential economic forecasting group said Monday.

WASHINGTON, July 17, 2008 (AFP) - Herewith the International Monetary Fund's latest key economic projections, published Thursday, that revise forecasts made in its April World Economic Outlook.

In parentheses, the percentage-point figures represent the revision made to gross domestic product growth estimates; an unchanged forecast is indicated by a hyphen.