Growth and the euro
Opportunities notwithstanding, however, economic and political risks remain high. Businesses will need to be aware of and prepared for these risks.
Europe's economic recovery, which began in the second quarter of 2013, is expected to continue spreading across countries and gaining strength while at the same time becoming more balanced across growth drivers. As it is typical following deep financial crises, however, the recovery remains fragile.
Nevertheless, recent positive economic news means that the forecasts for GDP growth this year and next have been raised slightly since the autumn. EU GDP, which rose 0.1% in 2013, is now expected to rise 1.5% this year and 2.0% next year, while growth in the euro area, which was -0.4% for 2013 as a whole, is expected to be 1.2% in 2014 and 1.8% in 2015. After two years of contraction, domestic demand is gently firming, as the crisis' legacy of excessive debt, financial fragmentation, economic uncertainty and the need for adjustment and fiscal consolidation fades, and confidence is improving. The fiscal stances of the EU and euro area this year are expected to be broadly neutral. At the same time, rising import demand means that external trade's contribution to growth will become more muted. In line with these developments, unemployment should fall slightly from its peak, as the labor market turns the corner. The forecast for inflation in the EU and the euro area
A FEW months ago investors were feeling more optimistic about the euro zone. In July the Greek government could borrow money at an interest rate of 6%, a far cry from the near-40% it was paying in 2012. Economic growth in the first quarter of 2014 was 1.2% on an annualized basis—not great, but not terrible.
That has all changed. There are now serious worries that the euro zone will succumb to a “triple-dip” recession. Only Lithuania—which joins the euro zone on the first day of 2015—and Ireland are forecast to see strong growth next year. Fears grow that the 18-member currency club may fall into deflation. Inflation fell to just 0.4% in October, well below the European Central Bank’s target of almost 2%. Among other things deflation makes debt harder to bear. Seven euro-zone countries are forecast to have public-debt-to-GDP ratios of over 100% next year; the proportion of loans in default is rising in Portugal, Italy and Greece. Even though the ECB has adopted measures to boost growth—lowering interest rates to 0.05%, for example, and buying covered bonds from investors—it remains under pressure to do even more.
Growth and the euroOpportunities notwithstanding, however, economic and political risks remain high. Businesses will need to be aware of and prepared for these risks. Europe's economic recovery, which began in the second quarter of 2013, is expected to continue spreading across countries and gaining strength while at the same time becoming more balanced across growth drivers. As it is typical following deep financial crises, however, the recovery remains fragile.Nevertheless, recent positive economic news means that the forecasts for GDP growth this year and next have been raised slightly since the autumn. EU GDP, which rose 0.1% in 2013, is now expected to rise 1.5% this year and 2.0% next year, while growth in the euro area, which was -0.4% for 2013 as a whole, is expected to be 1.2% in 2014 and 1.8% in 2015. After two years of contraction, domestic demand is gently firming, as the crisis' legacy of excessive debt, financial fragmentation, economic uncertainty and the need for adjustment and fiscal consolidation fades, and confidence is improving. The fiscal stances of the EU and euro area this year are expected to be broadly neutral. At the same time, rising import demand means that external trade's contribution to growth will become more muted. In line with these developments, unemployment should fall slightly from its peak, as the labor market turns the corner. The forecast for inflation in the EU and the euro areaA FEW months ago investors were feeling more optimistic about the euro zone. In July the Greek government could borrow money at an interest rate of 6%, a far cry from the near-40% it was paying in 2012. Economic growth in the first quarter of 2014 was 1.2% on an annualized basis—not great, but not terrible. That has all changed. There are now serious worries that the euro zone will succumb to a “triple-dip” recession. Only Lithuania—which joins the euro zone on the first day of 2015—and Ireland are forecast to see strong growth next year. Fears grow that the 18-member currency club may fall into deflation. Inflation fell to just 0.4% in October, well below the European Central Bank’s target of almost 2%. Among other things deflation makes debt harder to bear. Seven euro-zone countries are forecast to have public-debt-to-GDP ratios of over 100% next year; the proportion of loans in default is rising in Portugal, Italy and Greece. Even though the ECB has adopted measures to boost growth—lowering interest rates to 0.05%, for example, and buying covered bonds from investors—it remains under pressure to do even more.
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