<p>The Brazilian economy shrank by 0.52 percent in September compared with August, the biggest one-month decline in almost a year, the central bank said Wednesday.</p>.<p>The central bank's IBC-Br index of economic activity, seen as a reliable predictor of GDP movement, fell for the first time since March, from 143.34 points to 142.59.</p>.<p>September's IBC-Br reading cast doubt on the government's forecast that GDP will grow 2 percent this year despite a gain of only 0.6 percent in the first quarter.<br /><br />Even with the weak performance in September, the IBC-Br expanded by 1.15 percent in the third quarter compared with the previous three months, the central bank said.<br /><br />The index was also up 1.2 percent over the level reached in the first nine months of 2011.<br />Private economists surveyed by the central bank predict the Brazilian economy will grow 1.54 percent in 2012 and by 4 percent next year.<br /><br />Latin America's economic giant suffered a sharp but relatively brief slowdown in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis and rebounded with growth of 7.5 percent in 2010.<br />Last year, however, the Brazilian economy managed an expansion of only 2.7 percent. </p>
<p>The Brazilian economy shrank by 0.52 percent in September compared with August, the biggest one-month decline in almost a year, the central bank said Wednesday.</p>.<p>The central bank's IBC-Br index of economic activity, seen as a reliable predictor of GDP movement, fell for the first time since March, from 143.34 points to 142.59.</p>.<p>September's IBC-Br reading cast doubt on the government's forecast that GDP will grow 2 percent this year despite a gain of only 0.6 percent in the first quarter.<br /><br />Even with the weak performance in September, the IBC-Br expanded by 1.15 percent in the third quarter compared with the previous three months, the central bank said.<br /><br />The index was also up 1.2 percent over the level reached in the first nine months of 2011.<br />Private economists surveyed by the central bank predict the Brazilian economy will grow 1.54 percent in 2012 and by 4 percent next year.<br /><br />Latin America's economic giant suffered a sharp but relatively brief slowdown in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis and rebounded with growth of 7.5 percent in 2010.<br />Last year, however, the Brazilian economy managed an expansion of only 2.7 percent. </p>