BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil's government on Thursday lowered its economic growth forecast for this year to 2.3%, down from a previous estimate of 2.5% in November, as the economy slows from last year's expansion, which it estimated at 3.5%.
The Economic Policy Secretariat of the Finance Ministry also sharply raised its inflation projection, now expecting consumer prices to rise 4.8% this year, up from the previous forecast of 3.6%.
(Reporting by Marcela Ayres)