BETTER PROSPECTS: The revision follows disappointing exports in the first half of the year, but the institute expects outbound shipments to turn positive in the second half

Taipei Times
Date: Jul 18, 2019
By: Crystal Hsu  /  Staff reporter

The Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research (CIER, 中華經濟研究院) yesterday revised down its forecast for the nation’s GDP growth this year, but said it expected the figure to remain above 2 percent as robust capital spending helps mitigate the pain of slower exports.

The institute now expects the economy to expand by 2.06 percent, down from its previous forecast of 2.15 percent.

“The nation’s economic growth might stay above the 2 percent mark, as it improves each quarter,” following a lackluster 1.7 percent increase in the first half, CIER president Chen Shi-kuan (陳思寬) said.

The second half is usually the high season for consumer electronic devices, which should benefit Taiwanese companies in their global supply chains.    [FULL  STORY]