articles | 07 May 2020

EU predicts a sharp -7.4% Cyprus recession

Cyprus is heading for a tough economic recession with GDP growth in 2020 to decline -7.4% while public finances will deteriorate with a -7% deficit, according to the EU.

Inflation is set to remain subdued, domestic demand is expected to fall moderately while exports will plummet, according to the European Commission Spring Economic Forecast for Cyprus.

According to the forecast, Cyprus is set for a -7.4% contraction of GDP this year, followed by 6.1% upswing in 2021.

The fiscal deficit will increase to -7% in 2020 and -1.8% in 2021. Debt to GDP ratio will increase to 115.7% and 105.0% respectively in the two years, inflation at -0.2% and 1% and unemployment at 8.6% and 7.5% for 2020 and 2021.

“Cyprus’ economic activity is heading into a severe contraction in 2020 due to the global outbreak of COVID-19 and the confinement measures that followed,” said the report.

The European Commission said: “external demand for services is set to dip significantly, with tourism expected to be particularly hard hit by the crisis. Domestic demand is also forecast to contract significantly due to the restrictions to consumption and construction activity as well as a drop in confidence.”

The general government budget is expected to record a large deficit and public debt is set to increase as a result before declining again in 2021.

“Cyprus’ recovery from the deep financial and economic crisis of 2013 has been remarkable. By 2017, real GDP had risen above its pre-crisis level. In 2019, economic activity grew by 3.2%.”

“However, the COVID-19 crisis is set to push the economy into a severe recession in 2020, with real GDP forecast to contract by 71⁄2 in 2020 before bouncing back with growth of around 6% in 2021.”

Brussels said the impact of the outbreak and subsequent health-policy responses on economic activity is expected to be “significant” in the second quarter as the outbreak and the lockdown started in mid-March.

“The economy is expected to start a slow recovery towards the end of the second quarter. However, the impact of the crisis on the tourism sector is likely to last longer”.

Tourism will feel impact most

The Commission said the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to “significantly” dampen demand for tourism.

Cyprus is heavily dependent on tourism, as every year the country hosts around 4 million tourists (4.5 times more than its population) and the sector account for more than 20% of GDP.

Imports are expected to evolve in line with final demand, resulting in a contraction in 2020 and a rebound in 2021.

The contribution of net exports to GDP growth is set to be substantially negative in 2020, but to turn positive in 2021.

Private consumption “is set to fall sharply during the lockdown period and to gradually recover in the second half of the year”.

It is expected to fall more than real disposable income, “leading to a surge of savings in 2020, which should normalise in 2021″.

The unemployment rate “is projected to increase, albeit modestly. The fiscal measures adopted are expected to support employment and households’ incomes”.

Investment in construction “could rebound quickly after the lockdown owing to the pipeline of large and already commenced multi-year projects”.

Public consumption “is the only component of domestic demand that is expected to continue growing in 2020, reflecting the fiscal stimulus measures adopted, increases in the public payroll, and expenditures linked to the national health system”.

Downside Risks

Brussels warned that “downside risks are significant. In addition to the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic and the economic recovery after the lifting of the lockdown measures, the large private and public sector debt overhang increases further downside risks related to a prolonged economic downturn.”

“Moreover, as a small open economy, Cyprus is exposed to external risks related to the economic impact of the pandemic on its main trading partners i.e. the EU, the UK and Russia.”

Headline inflation is forecast to fall from 0.5% in 2019 to -0.2% in 2020, driven by lower energy prices and non-energy industrial goods.

Headline inflation is expected to turn positive again in 2021, at 1%, reflecting increasing food and services prices. This is set to lead to a moderate increase in core inflation.

“The general government balance is forecast to dive into a deficit of 7% of GDP in 2020 after a sizeable surplus of 1.75% GDP in 2019.”

Cyprus’ fiscal performance in 2020 “is projected to be severely affected by falling revenues due to the economic downturn and measures to dampen the social and economic effects of the COVID-19 crisis.”

The Commission believes that in 2021, public finances should improve, with the general government deficit narrowing to 1.75% of GDP, based on the assumption that the measures adopted to fight the pandemic will only have a temporary effect in 2020.

The public debt- to-GDP ratio is set to rise to over 115.5% in 2020 from 95.5% in 2019, before decreasing to 105% in 2021.

Expenditure growth “is projected to surge by 17.5% in 2020 and to decrease by 1.5% in 2021”.

“Spending measures adopted to fight the pandemic (4.3% of GDP), which include wage subsidies, income support for the self-employed, and additional spending to strengthen the healthcare system, are expected to have a temporary effect on public finances in 2020.”

However, the Commission warns that “higher compensation of public employees and the cost of the roll-out of the second phase of National Health Insurance System (NHIS) are projected to increase public expenditure in 2020 and 2021”.

“The projected decrease in revenue in 2020 (-3%) primarily reflects the large expected decrease in tax revenues (-10%).”

Revenue is expected to pick up in 2021 on account of the projected economic recovery.

Source: Financial Mirror

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