Brasília, 1/5/2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - The Central Bank's first weekly survey of market estimates (Boletim Focus) has found the forecast for 2004 inflation at 6% (as measured by the Broad Consumer Price Index (IPCA) and GDP growth at 3.55% - the forecasts are the same as they were in the last week of 2003.

The Focus Bulletin also found that the market expects a 2004 trade surplus of US$19.5 billion ( up from US$19 billion in the last survey). The debt/GDP ration is expected to be 56% - the same as in the last survey. (AB)