Bloomberg's quarterly survey of economists and analysts about the outlook on the Lebanese economy projected real GDP growth at 1.9% in 2018, compared to a March 2018 forecast of 2%, while it expected growth to accelerate to 2.6% in 2019. The individual forecasts of growth rates for 2018 ranged from 1.5% to 2.5%, while the consensus forecast among 87.5% of participants is that real GDP would grow by 2% or less this year. The results displayed a median real GDP growth figure of 1.9% for 2018. The survey's results are based on the opinions of eight economists and analysts based in Lebanon and abroad. Bloomberg conducted the poll between June 17 and June 21, 2018. 

Also, participants forecast Lebanon's average inflation rate at 4.3% in 2018 and at 3.8% in 2019. The opinions of polled economists differed on the direction of consumer prices in 2018 with expectations ranging from 3% to 6%, while 87.5% of participants agreed that the inflation rate would be between 3% and 4.5% this year. The poll's results revealed a median inflation rate of 4.2% for 2018. 

In addition, surveyed economists forecast Lebanon's fiscal deficit at 7.9% of GDP in 2018 and at 7.4% of GDP in 2019. The participants expected the fiscal deficit at between 6.5% of GDP and 9% of GDP this year, with a median of 7.9% of GDP. Further, polled economists projected the current account deficit at 20.7% of GDP this year and at 20.8% of GDP in 2019. The surveyed economists expected the current account deficit to range between 17% of GDP and 25.8% of GDP, with a median of 20.3% of GDP in 2018.

In parallel, respondents assigned an average probability of 16.7% for Lebanon to enter into recession in the next 12 months. The opinions of surveyed economists ranged between 10% and 20%. The poll's results indicated a median probability of 20% for a recession in 2018.