Slovakia: Country Economic Forecast 2012
19 January 2010by marketresearch -- last modified 16 July 2012
This report contains detailed economic forecasts and analysis for Slovakia.
|
Abstract
The financial crisis in the Eurozone continues to take its toll on Slovakia's economy. In Q3, domestic demand shrank by 1.7% according to national accounts data released in December. While GDP actually rose 0.7% from Q2, this was due largely to import volumes contracting by 3.1% in the period. Although we expect GDP to have risen by 3% in 2011 as a whole, growth is forecast to slow to just 1.1% in 2012. External demand has weakened sharply, with export volumes falling 2% in Q3. And given the possibility of a further worsening of the Eurozone financial crisis, there is clearly a risk that exports could continue to decline in 2012. Weak external demand will directly affect Slovakia's industrial sector. We expect industrial output to grow by just 2.4% in 2012, after an estimated 6.4% in 2011. The slowdown in the manufacturing sector has implications for the labour market. We expect the unemployment rate to average 14.2% in 2012 as growth remains sluggish, up from 13.4% in 2011. As well as being depressed by the weak economic background, consumer spending continues to be affected by high inflation, which at 4.8% in November on the EU-harmonised measure is well above the Eurozone average of 3%. Consumption is expected to grow by just 0.1% in 2012.
For more info and to buy this report, visit partner retailer's website
Advertisement