Brazil's economy grows 2.9% in Lula's 1st year, beating expectations

SAO PAULO (AP) — Brazil's economy grew 2.9% in 2023, beating expectations in the first year of the administration of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, according to the government statistics institute Friday.The number announced by IBGE impressed many economists, whose overall forecast early last year was for only 0.8% growth in 2023.STATE IN BRAZIL'S AMAZON RAINFOREST REPORTS OVER 2,000 WILDFIRES IN PAST MONTHBrazil's economy grew 3% in 2022, partly due to government spending pro