Spring forecast

High broad-based economic growth will continue this year (5.1%); a continuation of favourable economic trends is also expected for 2019 (3.8%). Export growth, underpinned by gains in competitiveness from previous years and a favourable export structure, is expected to remain high in 2018 and subsequent years. Domestic consumption will remain a significant factor of growth in 2018–2020. The growth of employment will remain fairly high this year, before easing gradually in the next two years, mainly under the impact of demographic change.