Several times a year, Coface Switzerland shares analyzes on the evolution of the global economy. The goal is to highlight major trends and explain their local impacts. This includes impacts in Switzerland and the United States. This barometer is particularly important to us. It serves as an essential basis for our decision-making.
We have (slightly) revised down our global growth forecast for 2025 to 2.6%, i.e., the same level as for this year. While we maintain our forecasts for a continued slowdown in the US and China, the slight tweak is mainly due to the Euro area, whose recovery in Germany looks increasingly uncertain.
The soft landing of the global economy is continuing fairly smoothly in the main, albeit very patchily or not at the same pace everywhere. While the US is finally slowing down, albeit in small doses, Europe is undergoing a limited and uncertain recovery. China, for its part, continues to be mired in its structural problems and is struggling to get back on its feet.
The inflationary hydra seems on its way to being vanquished, at least temporarily, allowing central banks to loosen their grip, again at least for the time being. Whatever the reasons, disinflation appears well under way and the targets set by the major central banks should be reached during 2025.
A new era looks to be dawning, one of fiscal consolidation, which is both regrettable and necessary, and marks a return to permanently tighter or less permissive financial conditions despite monetary easing. This is already the case in Europe and in many emerging economies, whose public finances have been bled dry by a succession of crises.
This autumn, a sense of worry has descended over Europe. In spring, there was still hope for recovery in the eurozone. However, this hope has given way to a certain resignation. On one hand, household consumption remains very hesitant, and many investments are being postponed. On the other hand, external trade is only temporarily recovering due to mixed economic prospects in the United States and China.
We are seeing real wage growth due to rising collective wages and decreased inflationary pressure. However, this positive sign is reflected more in an increase in the savings rate than in consumption growth.
Businesses are primarily paying the price. Their margins continue to collapse, leading to a record number of bankruptcies in some major European countries since 2016.
After two years of rate hikes or maintaining high levels, rate cuts began this year. The ECB has decided to lower rates several times since June and is expected to continue this trend until reaching a “neutral” rate. This rate neither encourages nor hinders the economy.
In the eurozone, this level is currently estimated at around 3%. However, due to the long duration of loans, it will take time before monetary easing reaches businesses and households.
During the pandemic, budget deficits and public debt increased significantly in all countries. While this was an adequate response to global challenges at the time, it now poses a problem. Indeed, these public spending policies have often not encouraged savings.
In July, the EU initiated a deficit procedure against seven countries: Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Malta, Poland, and Slovakia.
If the trend in the eurozone is negative, Switzerland has clearly distinguished itself from its European partners. The GDP growth was 0.5% in the first quarter of 2024. This figure is adjusted for price and seasonal effects. In the second quarter, the growth rate was 0.7%. These growth rates are similar to those seen before the pandemic.
This strong performance is linked to two factors. On one hand, inflation levels in Switzerland have never been as high as in the rest of Europe. On the other hand, Switzerland has always managed to keep its public finances under control.
The Swiss National Bank has so far reduced interest rates by 75 basis points to 1%. This level is relatively low compared to the eurozone, where it was around 3.5% at the beginning of October. The neutral level is expected to be around 0.5%.
In this context, Coface forecasts growth of 1.5% in 2024 and 1.8% in 2025. Budgetary stability, very low political risk, and a high level of economic development explain Switzerland's unchanged rating of A1.
A significant increase has been observed during the first nine months of 2024. The figures are up 13% compared to the same period in 2023. In September 2024, around 1,100 bankruptcies were recorded. This is an exceptional figure.
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Only four countries have seen their rating upgraded.
Albania (from C to B) and Cyprus (from B to A4) benefited from strong tourism and better economic prospects. In Albania, unprecedented political stability was also observed, while Cyprus is slowly but surely reducing its public debt.
Rwanda (from B to A4), which has established itself as a service center (finance, logistics, transport) in East Africa, also saw its rating upgraded. The country's strong political stability and legal security contributed to this improvement.
Costa Rica (from B to A4) is benefiting from the nearshoring trend in the United States (bringing production closer to consumer markets to avoid supply chain risks).
Israel is suffering the consequences of war. War efforts are reducing production activity, leading to a downgrade of its rating to A4.