Chile central bank lowers range of 2024 GDP growth forecast
Adds details in paragraphs 3-8
SANTIAGO, Sept 4 (Reuters) -Chile's central bank on Wednesday slightly lowered the range of its gross domestic product (GDP) growth estimate for 2024, saying the economy is now set to expand between 2.25% and 2.75% this year.
The monetary authority's previous projection released in June stood at between 2.25% and 3.0%.
"As had been anticipated, the strong dynamism of activity early in the year was reduced, which was partly associated with the reversal of some transitory elements," Chile's central bank said, noting a deterioration in private consumption.
The central bank kept its forecast for 2025 GDP growth steady at 1.5% to 2.5%.
The bank raised its projection for annual headline inflation in 2024 to 4.5%, from 4.2% in June, citing a "sharper rise in volatile components" such as electricity costs.
"Added to this is the impact of the increases in global maritime freight rates and the depreciation of the peso in recent months," the central bank said in a statement.
However, the Andean country's monetary authority - which has an inflation target of 3% - still expects disinflation to be "faster" because of lower demand pressures.
It said that weakness in spending, combined with anchored expectations around the target, reduced inflationary pressures.
Annual inflation in 2025 was forecast at 3.6%.
The central bank on Tuesday unanimously voted to reduce its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to 5.5%, in line with expectations.
Reporting by Fabian Andres Cambero, Gabriel Araujo and Luana Maria Benedito; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Ros Russell
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