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Economy
Chief Economist's Corner: A challenging year lies ahead
Developments in the world economy and the financial markets in 2023 were fortunately much better than feared. Now a new year awaits us, which already promises to be very challenging, according to Nordea Group Chief Economist Helge Pedersen.
On the ground in China: Chief economist finds gloomier outlook
Chief Economist Tuuli Koivu recently returned from a week in China – her first trip there since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Local sentiment on the Chinese economy was quite different this time around. She shares her key takeaways and updated outlook.
Helge J. Pedersen: The curious economist always chasing new knowledge
As a young student, Helge J. Pedersen got completely hooked on economics. The Nordea expert never looked back, and today he is one of Denmark’s most well-known economists. But his passion for football and the world of sports never fades.
A cold wind is still blowing through the Swedish economy. Tight monetary policy will likely gradually impact the domestic economy and Sweden’s important trading partners. Some relief is expected once inflation falls and policy rates are lowered.
Nordea Chief Economist: It's too early to declare victory over inflation
So far, the global economy has been very resilient to the significant monetary policy tightening. Inflation is still high, however, and there is a good chance monetary policy will need to be tightened further.
Finland’s investments in the green transition continue, with more money pouring into low-emission industrial production and electric transportation, in addition to wind power.
Central banks are still concerned about inflation, which is slowing down, but is still above the target level. Consequently, it will take time before monetary policy will be eased, and the global outlook continues to be weak.
As part of the ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, vehicle taxation has been significantly changed. This has led to a sharp rise in the fleet of electric cars, while the number of diesel cars has declined. Despite this increase, there is still a long way to go to fulfil the ambition of one million zero- and low-emission cars on Danish roads in 2030.
Economic growth was healthy in the first half of the year, but the outlook going forward is clearly weaker. Higher interest rates will continue to put pressure on consumers, and residential construction. Demand for exports has also deteriorated as global economic growth has slowed down.
Chief Economist Kjetil Olsen: Evening calm in stormy times
Russia’s attack on Ukraine. Inflation and higher interest rates. Nordea’s Norwegian Chief Economist Kjetil Olsen is close to the big news. But an evening trip to the forest can make him forget time and place.
Decrease in savings to boost consumption in Finland
Household purchasing power has weakened significantly over the past year. However, households have maintained their spending by tapping into their savings.
The Swedish economy is showing some resilience. Especially the labour market has been stable. But there are still major challenges. Not least, households are struggling with high inflation and increasing interest rates with reduced spending as a result.