Norway to surpass Sweden as the fastest-growing Scandinavian economy in 2019 – Reuters poll

According to the latest Reuters poll, Norway will outpace Sweden as the fastest-growing Scandinavian economy in 2019, as the Swedish economic outlook dimmed in the recent months.

Key Findings:

While Sweden is expected to expand 2.6 percent in 2018, its growth rate is forecast to drop to 2.0 percent next year, the lowest since 2013 and lagging the 2.2 percent seen for Norway, while Denmark at 1.9 percent will be a close third.

The poll predicted unemployment would fall in all three countries in 2019, while consumer prices would accelerate.

Nordea Markets Economist Erik Bruce noted: “Norway and Sweden are in many ways in different stages of the cycle. Norway is on its way up after a weak period, while Sweden is facing the opposite development. Following a period of strong growth, Sweden is looking weaker as its main export markets are losing steam.”