IMF upgrades UK growth forecast 20 Apr 2017The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised its UK growth forecast for 2017 for the second time in three months. Within its half-yearly World Economic Outlook, the IMF predicts that the UK economy will now grow by 2% this year, up from its previous forecast of 1.5%. This makes the UK economy the second fastest growing advanced economy, after the US economy. The IMF stated that the forecast has been raised in response to the stronger than expected performance of the UK economy since the vote to leave the EU last year. However, UK economic growth is expected to slow to 1.5% in 2018. Commenting on the IMF’s decision to raise its growth forecast, Chancellor Philip Hammond said: ‘The fundamentals of our economy are strong and we continue to invest in the skills needed for a stronger and fairer Britain.’ Mr Hammond also stated that Britain will play ‘an active and engaged role in the global economy’.