Macroeconomic policy / 'Economic Outlook'
The Economic Outlook is our twice-yearly review of recent economic developments and projection of future economic developments. It is based on input from our member federations across Europe.
According to our Spring 2019 Economic Outlook, the recent downturn highlights the fragility of the EU economy:
- EU economic growth fell considerably in the second half of 2018;
- We expect for 2019 GDP growth of 1.6% in the EU and 1.3% in the Euro-area, considerably lower than our autumn forecast;
- Following tentative signs of a rebound in growth already in Q1 this year, we expect growth to pick up in 2020 to 1.7% in the EU and 1.5% in the Euro-area.
Risks to the outlook remain on the downside, with - alongside the continuing possibility of a damaging, no-deal Brexit - the recent escalation of trade tensions, particularly between the USA and China, which are an increasing concern for EU businesses. The outlook considers estimates from the ECB, the OECD and the IMF; all show that trade will be significantly hit, damaging not only Chinese and American economic growth, but also significantly impacting EU trade.
BusinessEurope main forecast
Publications
| Position papers | Date | |
|---|---|---|
| Reduction of the PRODCOM list from 8-digit to 6-digit level - a BusinessEurope position paper | 19/01/2017 |
| Public letters | Date | |
|---|---|---|
| Concerns about the SIMSTAT project - Letter from James Watson to Eurostat | 13/05/2016 | |
| Reduction of the PRODCOM list from 8-digit to 6-digit level - Letter from James Watson to Eurostat | 13/05/2016 |
