Slovakia: Growth decelerates sharply in Q4 to over one-year low
Economic growth appears to have hit the brakes in the fourth quarter. According to preliminary data released by the Central Statistics Office (KSH) on 14 February, the economy expanded 3.6% annually in Q4, down from Q3’s 4.6% increase, marking the lowest reading in over a year. On seasonally-adjusted quarter-on-quarter basis, GDP growth in the fourth quarter inched down to 0.8%, from Q3’s revised 1.1% expansion.
Although a breakdown by components is not yet available, fixed investment likely eased in Q4 due to completed projects in the all-important automobile sector a quarter earlier. Meanwhile, slower demand from Germany—a key partner in the European supply chain—drove a deceleration of exports at year-end, likely dragging on the fourth-quarter result.
More detailed data will be released on 7 March.