United States: Is a Slowdown in the Offing?”

This article provides an analysis of the US economy in the first half of 2015 and of its expected developments in the coming quarters. It addresses the issue of the first-quarter of 2015 contraction of the GDP and its implications on the annualized projected trend. It explores also the potential impact of externalities and financial shocks on the rate of GDP growth (i.e. Greek crisis, emerging markets’ economic slowdown, Euro zone political and social tensions and the region fragile and uneven growth trend). It include also policy guidance and recommendations to help improve the resilience of financial, economic, banking, and social stability to potential systemic shocks and severe markets corrections.