The five ""Regional Economic Outlooks"" published biannually by the IMF cover Asia and Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Western Hemisphere. In each volume, recent economic developments and prospects for the region are discussed as a whole, as well as for specific countries. The reports include key data for countries in the regions. Each report zeroes in on policy developments that have affected economic performance in the region, and discusses key challenges faced by policymakers. The near-term outlook, key risks, and their related policy challenges are analyzed throughout, and special chapters look more closely at topics such as the evolving nature of capital inflows, housing market developments, the impact of commodity price booms on lower-income economies, or the prospects for sustainable growth in developed economies. These indispensable surveys are the product of comprehensive intradepartmental reviews of economic developments that draw primarily on information the IMF staff gathers through consultation with member countries.