China news agency, Sao Paulo, May 6 (Reporter Mo Chengxiong) - Brazil's central bank issued the latest Focus Survey report on the 6th local time, showing that financial institutions once again downgraded Brazil's economic growth expectations for this year.

The report is a compilation of 100 analysts from Brazil's major financial institutions. In the report, analysts cut Brazil's economic growth forecast for the year to 1.49% for the first time, below 1.5% from the previous 1.7%, the tenth consecutive downgrade of this year's economic growth forecast. However, analysts maintain Brazil's economic growth forecast for next year at 2.5%.

Analysts also raised Brazil's inflation forecast for this year to 4.04% from 4.01% before, and it will remain at 4% next year. Both figures are within the Brazilian government's median inflation control target of 4.25% and 4% for this year and next year.

As for the benchmark interest rate, analysts believe that by the end of this year, Brazil's benchmark interest rate will remain unchanged at the current 6.5%. By the end of next year, the benchmark interest rate will rise to 7.5%.

As for the exchange rate, analysts predict that the Brazilian real will remain at 3.75 to the dollar by the end of this year. By the end of next year, the exchange rate will fall to 3.8 to 1.

In terms of foreign trade, analysts predict that Brazil's foreign trade surplus will rise to $50.39 billion this year from the previous $50 billion. The foreign trade surplus will remain at the level of $46 billion next year.

Analysts also forecast that Brazil's foreign investment will remain at the level of $82 billion this year. The amount of foreign capital used next year will reach 85 billion US dollars, slightly higher than the previous estimate of 84.68 billion US dollars.