BELGIUM REVISES DOWN 1987 GNP GROWTH FORECASTS
The Belgian government has lowered its
forecast for the nominal increase in gross national product in
1987 to 3.5 pct from an originally forecast 3.9 pct, Prime
Minister Wilfried Martens said in a statement to parliament.
    He said this revision, which brings government forecasts
more closely into line with those by private institutions,
takes account of an anticipated slowdown in the world economy
and international trade.
    But he said the impact on the Belgian economy will be
limited due to recent agreements on wages and working
conditions agreed by employers and unions.
    Martens did not say how much the government expected GNP to
grow in volume terms.
    However, last month the government's Planning Bureau said
it had revised its 1987 forecast for this to 0.9 pct from 2.0
pct.
    In 1986, Belgium's gross national product rose 2.15 pct in
volume terms against a 5.9 pct nominal rise.
 REUTER
