Slovakia's economy increased only by 1.9 percent in 2Q of 2019. (source: TASR)
The Slovak economy has begun to decelerate at a pace no one expected, leaving analysts surprised and the government unprepared.
The Statistics Office (ŠÚ SR) published its flash estimate for the second quarter of 2019: the GDP increased by 1.9 percent in the year-on-year comparison. After seasonal adjustment the GDP rose by 2.5 percent compared to the same quarter of 2018.
“Economic figures in the second quarter of this year are disappointing,” said UniCredit Bank analyst Ľubomír Koršňák.
It is now questionable if the government can achieve the balanced budget as projected in 2019. Finance Minister Ladislav Kamenický (Smer) admitted the recent numbers surprised him.
“The slowdown was expected but not so early and not at this scale,” he told the TASR newswire.
Slowest growth since 2013
Bank analysts expected Slovakia's economy to go downwards, falling year-on-year from 3.7 percent to 3.4 percent. Yet, the second quarter of 2019 data has painted a different picture.
“It is the slowest annual growth from the second recession wave within the euro area in 2013,” VÚB Bank analyst Michal Lehuta said.
