• Sweden edition
Business & Money

Sweden to lower growth forecast: Borg

Published: 20 Nov 12 14:47 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/44542/20121120/

Swedish Finance Minister Anders Borg said Tuesday he would revise downwards his 2012 growth forecast, disparaged by economists as being overly optimistic, by the end of the year.


"The outlook for the Swedish economy is deteriorating" and "a new forecast will be presented by the end of the year," Borg said in a speech in Stockholm.

In its 2013 budget bill presented to parliament on September 20, the centre-right government predicted growth of 1.6 percent in 2012, 2.7 percent next year and 3.7 percent in 2014.

Many economists have criticised those figures as outdated after Statistics Sweden revised downwards its second quarter growth figures in mid-September and as the European economy continues to deteriorate.

The Swedish central bank has also issued a much more conservative outlook, anticipating growth of 0.9 percent this year and 0.7 percent next year.

"Reality has caught up with Borg," Swedbank chief economist Cecilia Hermansson said in the online edition of daily Svenska Dagbladet.

"Swedish industry and production are facing tougher challenges than usual," she said.

Meanwhile, international credit rating agency Standard & Poor's also noted the difficulties facing Sweden's economy, where exports account for half of gross domestic product.

"We believe the economic outlook for Sweden is weakening, with signs of the economy slowing more sharply than expected," S&P said as it downgraded the outlooks for eight Swedish banks.

"We believe the negative trends in the Swedish economy will be in part driven by a slowdown in the eurozone that will be more protracted and deeper than we previously expected," it added.

Statistics Sweden is scheduled to publish a first estimate of Sweden's third quarter growth figures on November 29.

AFP/The Local/og
Follow The Local on Twitter

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Business & Money headlines
Riksbank unveils new board members

Riksbank unveils new board members

Sweden's central bank has appointed two new board members plucked from banking and academia to replace two outgoing members, one of whom was an outspoken critic of the Riksbank's commitment to the government's inflation goal. READ () »

Sweden has 'lower tax burden' than Senegal

Sweden has 'lower tax burden' than Senegal

While Sweden has a reputation for having one of the most painful tax bills in the world, a new report ranks Sweden 20th when comparing the tax burden on salaries when social security payments and salary brackets are taken into account. READ () »

Ericsson probed over suspected bribes

Ericsson probed over suspected bribes

Swedish telecom equipment maker Ericsson is suspected of having bribed ministers in Romania in connection with being awarded a contract for the country's emergency number and is now under investigation in the United States. READ () »

Warning over 'long-term' Swedish export slump

Warning over 'long-term' Swedish export slump

Sweden's largest business confederation has gone out guns blazing, criticizing politicians for not facing up to the challenges of "a lost year for Swedish exports" in 2012. READ () »

'Lean hospital a sign of Swedish welfare reform'

'Lean hospital a sign of Swedish welfare reform'

A Stockholm hospital saved from closure by private health care providers has been hailed by the Economist as one of modern's Sweden public-private success stories. READ () »

H&M mulls production in South America and Africa

H&M mulls production in South America and Africa

Swedish clothing giant H&M is looking into the possibility of sourcing its production to South America, Central America, and even Africa, chief executive Karl-Johan Persson said on Monday. READ () »

Nord Stream plans new gas pipelines

Nord Stream plans new gas pipelines

Gas pipeline firm Nord Stream will hold an information meeting on the Baltic island of Gotland on Monday to introduce a proposal to extend its controversial gas pipeline project. READ () »

'Sweden next in line for housing market crash'

'Sweden next in line for housing market crash'

Sweden tops a list of countries that risk suffering a housing market crash, Germany's Commerzbank has warned, citing the slackening off of Swedish property prices as a harbinger of a potential downswing. READ () »

Solna voted best place to live in Sweden

Solna voted best place to live in Sweden

Solna, a suburb just north of Stockholm, is the best place to live in Sweden, according to a new ranking published on Friday by Swedish news magazine Fokus. READ () »

Ikea founder rated fifth richest in the world

Ikea founder rated fifth richest in the world

Ingrad Kamprad, the founder of Swedish furniture giant Ikea, finished fifth on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index published on Friday, with an estimated fortune of $55.6 billion. READ () »

More Business & Money

Find a new job in Sweden now
22/05 Accountant to Bank of China
Sjr Ab
Stockholm
22/05 Accountant to Bank of China
SJR AB
Stockholm, STHM
22/05 Accounting Manager
Michael Page
Göteborg
22/05 Accounting Manager
Michael Page
Göteborg, VTG
22/05 Architectural Engineer #8409
Aker Advantage
Stockholm
22/05 Business Developer/Account Manager
TransPerfect Translations
Stockholm, STHM
22/05 CAD/PDM Support Engineer
European Spallation Source ESS AB
SKÅ
22/05 Controller Tele2 Group Product
Tele2
Kista
22/05 Driven och social nätverkstekniker till ett av världens mest kaenda foeretag
Academic Work
Stockholm, STHM
22/05 Head of Product Control - If Industrial
IF skadeförsäkring
Stockholm, Nordic

ALL JOBS »


 
Latest Business & Money news from Germany
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Holiday Luxury Villa in Portugal
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com