SANTIAGO, Dec 18 (Reuters) - A regional United Nations economic body on Thursday slashed its forecast for Latin American and Caribbean economic growth in 2009 to 1.9 percent, less than half the 4.0 percent it estimated in August, but did not forecast any recessions.
It also slightly trimmed its 2008 regional economic growth estimate to 4.6 percent from the 4.7 percent it predicted in August.
The U.N. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, or ECLAC, based in the Chilean capital Santiago, lowered its forecast for gross domestic product growth (GDP) in Brazil in 2009 to 2.1 percent from a previous estimate of 4.0 percent.
It saw Brazilian GDP growing 5.9 percent this year.
The ECLAC lowered its estimate for 2009 growth in Mexico to 0.5 percent, the lowest rate in the region and down from its previous forecast for 2.5 percent growth.
For 2008, the U.N. body said Mexico's economy would grow 1.8 percent.