Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
LONDON (AP) — The International Monetary Fund on Friday delivered an optimistic assessment of Britain's economic strategy, a sharp reversal from last year, when it criticized the Conservative-led government's focus on budget austerity.
The report wraps up the IMF's annual economic inspection with the conclusion that the economy has rebounded and growth is more balanced. Last year, the IMF made headlines when it criticized Chancellor George Osborne's plans to reduce debt quickly, at the expense of economic growth.
The cheery new report noted that growth had accelerated, inflation had fallen and that leading indicators suggested that the recovery had gained momentum.
There was a warning about rising house prices, particularly in London. It also singled out concern about low productivity growth. It says both present risks to the recovery.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
