RIO DE JANEIRO, March 5: As Brazil throws itself into Carnival this weekend the government announced
that red-hot growth of 7.5 per cent last year meant Brazil was now the seventh-biggest economy in the
world, its gross domestic product swelling to $2.09 trillion and overtaking Italy`s $2.06 trillion.
The data confirmed two things: that Brazil well and truly shrugged off the global financial crisis that has
mired the United States and Europe; and that its growing pool of consumers is proving to be very
enthusiastic indeed at spending.
Along with the sustained world demand for the produce and raw materials Brazil exports— iron ore, coffee,
orange juice, soya — and the spike in commodity prices there seem to be many reasons for Brazil to think
the party will be a long and satisfying one. But there are some tremors hinting that the country`s rock-androll
good times could result in a major hangover.
