The Economic Outlook
The last few decades have been difficult ones for the our country, but after several years (0) the
of positive global economic conditions, things are now looking good for the economy. (00) OK
There is a high growth and low unemployment so we are getting richer all the time and (1) 
most people have jobs. The economy is stable with price and wage inflation are at only 2% and (2)
interest rates which are low, so allowing people to buy their own homes and businesses to (3)
invest cheaply in capital projects. Demand for consumer goods is high, creating good market (4)
conditions for the retail and service sectors. (5)
Many people can believe that the present situation is due to the government’s strict monetary (6)
policy, and the Central Bank‘s role in controlling inflation. Moreover, taxes have been kept low in (7)
order to stimulate demand, and there is been an extensive policy of privatisation. (8)
Not everything is looking so positive though - our manufacturing and agricultural sectors have (9)
experienced declines last year and are now in recession. There is also a the growing balance of (10)
payments deficit. One of the reasons for this is the exchange rate, our currency is being (11)
particularly strong against those of our competitors – this makes exports uncompetitive in terms (12)
of price. In addition to this, prices on the stock exchange have been falling down recently, (13)
creating difficulties for investors, and there is a general shortage of the skilled workers – partly (14)
caused by a brain-drain as many of key staff are lured abroad by higher salaries. (15)
|
