The world is not in imminent danger of heading back into a double-dip recession, says the centre for economics and business research (cebr) in its new global economic outlook forecasts.

The new forecasts show downward revision to predicted world GDP growth for 2011 to 3.4% from 4.1% predicted three months ago. World growth forecasts for the years from 2012 to 2014 have also been revised down (see table 1).

The main reason for the forecast of slower growth is a downgrading of the prospects for the US economy. Growth in the US is forecast to fall back to 2.2% next year after hitting 2.5% this year.

Analysts at cebr believe that corporate spending in the US will eventually raise the rate of growth but that this may not happen until 2012.

Douglas McWilliams, cebr chief executive, says: “I would be prepared to bet one of my better shirts on there being no global double-dip.

“Although their growth will be affected by slower growth in the West, the emerging economies are too resilient for global growth to go negative again in the short term.”