'Robust' US has helped improve global economic outlook, IMF chief says

Washington: Strong growth in the United States has helped to lift the outlook for the world economy, but more needs to be done to stem a slide in prod...

Washington: Strong growth in the United States has helped to lift the outlook for the world economy, but more needs to be done to stem a slide in productivity, the head of the IMF said Thursday.

"Global growth is marginally stronger on account of robust activity in the United States and in many emerging markets economies," International Monetary Fund managing director Kristalina Georgieva told reporters in prepared remarks.

The US economy grew by a robust 2.5 percent last year, according to the US Commerce Department, far outstripping most other advanced economies.

"Robust household consumption and business investment, and an easing of supply chain problems helped," Georgieva added. "And inflation is going down, somewhat faster than previously expected."

She spoke just a few days before the IMF-World Bank spring meetings of world financial leaders in Washington, one of two such gatherings hosted each year by the international financial institutions.