MADRID (AFX) - Euro zone GDP growth in 2001 could be "slightly lower" than 3 pct due to weaker economic growth in the U.S., EU monetary affairs commissioner Pedro Solbes said.
In an interview with the La Gaceta de los Negocios financial daily, Solbes said that when the EU made its 2001 economic forecasts in November, U.S. growth was estimated at 3.3 pct compared to around 2.0 pct currently.
The knock-on effects from the U.S. slowdown and other factors "makes us think that we'll have growth of around 3 pct or slightly lower," he said.
In an interview with Handelsblatt last month, Solbes declined to specify if GDP growth would be slightly higher or lower than the round 3.0 pct figure.
Solbes said recent U.S. consumer confidence and productivity data supports forecasts for the country's economic growth rate to accelerate in the second half.
The Federal Reserve's interest rate policy will also support growth, he added.