Brasília, 9/16/2003 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - For the sixth week in a row, the weekly Focus survey by the Central Bank has found that market expectations for GDP growth this year have fallen. Focus surveys financial institutions and consultancy firms and its latest results is a drop in estimated GDP growth from 1;03% to 0.94%.

Estimates for 2004 GDP growth have remained stable at 3% for a total of 38 weeks.

With regard to inflation, Focus found a rise in estimates of the Broad Consumer Price Index (IPCA), which the government uses to gauge its inflation targets. The latest market estimate for year-end IPCA is 9.61%, up from 9.55% last week. Inflation estimates for 2004 remain stable at 6.20%

Finally, as for 2003 foreign investments in Brazil, market estimates at stable at US$8.5 billion. (AB)