Cooling economy, rising jobless to prompt two interest rate cuts this year: Westpac chief economist Bill Evans

Westpac chief economist Bill Evans says a cooling economy and a rising unemployment rate will force the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates twice this year. 

Mr Evans, who rightly predicted the RBA's last rate cutting cycle in 2011, believes the central bank will once again downgrade its forecasts for three percent growth in 2019. 

However, Bill Evans tells ABC's Peter Ryan that despite the slowing growth, a recession is not inevitable.