In its report on economic prospects for 2008, the World Bank is expecting that the rise in real GDP in developing countries will reach 7.1% this year against only 2.2% in rich countries (GDP measured at market prices and in US$ constant for 2000). In total, global growth will stabilise around 3.3% after standing at 3.6%, in 2007. Economists are counting on the dynamic nature of the Asian countries, whose imports are helping reduce the trade deficit in the US. GDP in the East Asian and Pacific region is expected to grow by 9.7% and in Eastern Europe and Eastern Asia by 6.1%. Good prospects too for Latin America (4.5%) and for the Middle East and North Africa (5.4%) and Sub-Saharan Africa (6.4%). (I.L.)