WASHINGTON, May 20- The International Monetary Fund on Monday said the United States was getting carried away with a government austerity drive, offering some of the institution's bluntest criticism yet of Washington's rush to cut its budget deficit. But there is very little risk of similar turmoil will ensnare the United States anytime soon, Cottarelli said.
NEW YORK, May 16- U.S. companies are hiring more workers and home prices, stock markets and energy production are climbing. The Congressional Budget Office on Tuesday slashed its budget deficit forecast for the current fiscal year ending Sept. 30 to $642 billion, a massive $203 billion cut from its estimate in February.
*Sees lower deficits and moderate growth next two years. WELLINGTON, May 16- New Zealand's government charted a more optimistic economic outlook on Thursday as it raised its forecast for budget surpluses on the back of moderate growth, and said it would start spending more on new policies.
PARIS, May 15- European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said on Wednesday France needed to present a credible programme of structural economic reforms if the EU is to grant it two more years to bring its budget deficit down as promised.
*CBO estimates could sap Congress' urgency for fiscal deal. WASHINGTON, May 14- The U.S. deficit is shrinking considerably more quickly than previously thought, the Congressional Budget Office said on Tuesday in a report that could sap Congress' sense of urgency to find further budget savings.
*New CBO estimates could sap Congress' urgency for fiscal deal. WASHINGTON, May 14- The U.S. deficit is shrinking considerably more quickly than previously thought, the Congressional Budget Office said on Tuesday in a report that could sap Congress' sense of urgency in finding further budget savings.
ATHENS, May 14- Ratings agency Fitch upgraded its sovereign credit rating for Greece by one notch on Tuesday, citing progress in cutting its budget deficit and the risk of a euro zone exit receding.
CANBERRA, May 14- Australia's struggling Labor government on Tuesday used the last budget before national elections to delay a long-promised return to surplus, blaming a stubbornly high Australian dollar and lower commodity prices for a dramatic fall in revenues.