The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) expects a 1.2 percent growth of the Albanian economy, down from a January forecast of 2013 growth of 1.5 percent. In its latest World Economic Prospects, EBRD notes that fiscal challenges are severe, with public debt above 60 percent of GDP, and financial sector vulnerabilities are evident with non-performing loans estimated at around 25 percent of total loans. EBRD expects Albanian economy to improve in 2014 with growth projected to slightly increase to 2 percent next year.