Recovery arriving quicker than expected but activity will remain weak, says OECD

Governments will need to continue to stimulate their economies as rising unemployment and weak housing markets continue to dampen private demand. The current exceptionally low interest rates should remain in force for the time being, the assessment adds.

The OECD forecasts economic growth across the Group of Seven countries to fall by 3.7% this year, a less brutal contraction than the 4.1% drop projected in June 2009. The latest GDP forecasts for this year provide slightly improved outlooks for Japan and the Euro area, an unchanged overall projection for the US but point to a gloomier situation in the UK.