INFLATION

The world economy will shrink at a far faster pace than originally expected this year, sending unemployment soaring and highlighting the need for extra steps to halt the crisis, the OECD said on Tuesday.

The United States is heading for only a tepid recovery next year, and the central bank may need to buy even more assets to combat the growing threat of deflation, the OECD said on Tuesday.

U.S. consumer spending rose for a second consecutive month in February and sentiment edged up in March, according to reports on Friday that backed views that the worst of the recession may be over.

Japan edged closer to deflation, highlighting a threat to the world economy before next week's G20 summit where Europe and the United States may clash over stimulus plans, but seek common ground on regulating the financial system.

U.S. consumer spending rose for a second consecutive month in February and sentiment edged up in March, according to reports on Friday that backed views that the worst of the recession may be over.

U.S. consumers' mood brightened a bit in March, nudged up by increased confidence in government economic policy, but overall sentiment remained near an all-time low, a survey showed on Friday.

Japan slipped to the brink of deflation and inflation in Europe slid closer to zero, underlining a threat to the world economy before next week's G20 summit which is supposed to produce a cure for the crisis.

Japan slipped to the brink of deflation and inflation in Europe slid closer to zero, underlining a threat to the world economy before next week's G20 summit which is supposed to produce a cure for the crisis.

Top Federal Reserve officials hinted on Thursday that the long U.S. economic downturn could be in its final stages, although the early stages of recovery will likely be far from stellar.

The Federal Reserve failed to spot the global financial crisis ahead of time, but its aggressive rescue efforts should soon stem the decline in growth, Dallas Fed President Richard Fisher said on Thursday.

Federal Reserve buying of longer-dated Treasury securities ought to lower interest rates, but this potentially inflationary stimulus may prove tough to unwind, a top Fed policy-maker said on Thursday.

The world has more than enough reserves to help restore financial stability, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said on Wednesday, but a way needs to be found of unlocking the funds.

The U.S. recession will drag on for some months before a recovery starts in late 2009 or early 2010, but the future is still clouded by risks, top Federal Reserve officials said on Wednesday.

The Federal Reserve must continue to boldly use all available tools to fight a deepening recession, a top Federal Reserve policy-maker said on Wednesday, adding that expectations for the economy to begin to grow by the end of 2009 are far from assured.

U.S. Federal Reserve policy-makers fanned out across Europe on Tuesday to express confidence that current policies can restore economic growth over time.

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke on Friday said the Fed's buying of longer-dated U.S. Treasuries would taper off when the economy no longer needed help, allowing the Fed to cease its emergency support.

Stocks rose on Friday as a further rebound in shares of natural resources companies offset bleak corporate outlooks and fears of inflation.

By Ellis Mnyandu

By Ellis Mnyandu

The U.S. dollar edged higher on Friday but still headed for its biggest weekly fall in 24 years on investor fears that it will lose its status as the world's reserve currency, while oil prices ceded ground after a recent rally.

By Rafael Nam