Scale of US slowdown still uncertain: Alistair Darling

LONDON: The world economy is facing uncertain times because policymakers can still not be sure about how deep the current slowdown in the United States will be, British finance minister Alistair Darling said on Tuesday. "Growth has remained stable and close to trend for the past two and a half years. But these are uncertain times. We do not yet know the full extent of the slowdown affecting the United States," Darling said in a speech to a financial audience. "We all recognise that the global economy is facing its biggest test in more than a decade." Speaking two weeks ahead of his first budget, Darling said fiscal policy has room to support monetary policy. "So in the Budget in March I will continue to take the decisions necessary to ensure the stability of the economy; to raise growth and to effectively manage our public finances