02/03/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday the European Central Bank will publish growth forecasts at the end of its directorate meeting on euro zone interest rates. AFP said that it expected a rise in GDP of 1.6% only in 2005 (as opposed to the expected 1.9ù forecast in December and 2.1% in 2006 (as opposed to 2.2%). Forecasts for inflation will be around 1.9% in 2005 (as opposed to 2% previously) and 1.6% in 2006.