The French and German governments this week stuck to their economic growth forecasts

Date: 07/01/1999

of more than 2&percent; in the face of mounting evidence suggesting that activity will slow down during the first half of this year. French Premier Lionel Jospin said there should be a “rebound in activity” after the first six months of the year, adding that the government's 2.7&percent; growth forecast would not be changed for now at least. German Finance Minister Oskar Lafontaine shrugged off a forecast from the Berlin-based DIW institute, which suggested that he would undershoot his 2&percent; growth prediction by 0.6 percentage point this year.