What is the economic outlook for OECD countries? An interim assessment. Paris, 8 September 2011. Pier Carlo Padoan, OECD Chief Economist and Deputy Secretary-General [see his acompanying PowerPoint presentation. “Activity has come close to stagnation:

• The recovery almost came to a halt in the second quarter in many OECD economies. And downward revisions to earlier published data point to weaker underlying activity economic than had previously been thought.
• Compared with the May Economic Outlook growth turned out weaker in the first half of the year both in the United States and the euro area.
• In Japan growth was less negative in the immediate aftermath of the March disaster than projected in the Economic Outlook (a second quarter update is scheduled for 9 September).
• Growth in China eased in the course of the first half of the year and manufacturing production has weakened.”
• See also OECD Economic Outlook No. 89, 8 September 2011 – includes Country specific projections, statistics, chapters, and more.