The head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, warned Tuesday the global economy may be slowing more than thought just over a month ago.
The World Bank on Wednesday upwardly revised its projection for Chinese economic growth in 2013 from 8.1 percent to 8.4 percent, but predicted the rate would taper off in the longer run.
China said Tuesday it faces a bleak foreign trade environment in 2013 due to ongoing global economic weakness, as the Asian export powerhouse appears set to miss this year's trade growth target.
The International Monetary Fund warned US leaders that hitting the looming "fiscal cliff" would not only crush the American economy but spin havoc through the rest of the world.
The IMF slashed its global growth forecast and warned things could get much worse if the eurozone crisis is not quelled and Washington fails to reverse the looming "fiscal cliff" austerity plan.
The World Bank on Monday slashed its 2012 growth forecast for developing countries in East Asia and the Pacific to 7.2 percent, down from 8.3 percent in 2011, due to the fragile global economy.
The French economy appears to be settling into a period of no growth according to the INSEE national statistics institute, which halved late Thursday its 2012 growth forecast to 0.2 percent.