ITALIAN 1987 GDP GROWTH FORECAST AT THREE PCT

  Italy's gross domestic product (GDP) will
  grow three pct in real terms this year and 2.7 pct in 1988,
  said economic information company Data Resources Europe Inc
  (DRI).
      Michel Girardin, DRI Europe's senior economist, said at a
  conference that Italian GDP growth this year "will be mainly
  driven by consumption and especially investment."
      Girardin said the driving force behind GDP growth next year
  will shift from domestic demand to exports as a result of
  expected depreciation of the lira against the major currencies.
      Italy's budget ministry said yesterday that GDP rose 2.7
  pct in real terms in 1986.
      DRI forecast that inflation, which was an average 6.3 pct
  in 1986, will be under five pct this year and that interest
  rates should drop two pct.
      Girardin said the lira is expected to appreciate 14 pct
  against the dollar this year following last year's 22 pct
  appreciation. An expected German mark appreciation against the
  dollar means that the lira should lose about six pct of its
  value relative to the German currency, he said.
      DRI estimates that foreign demand for Italian products
  should grow by a 3.2 pct this year following last year's 6.2
  pct increase.
  

