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Swedish economy bounces back to growth

AFP/The Local
AFP/The Local - [email protected]
Swedish economy bounces back to growth

Sweden’s economy returned to growth in the second quarter, ending a year of contraction and indicating that the worst of the country’s recession may be over.

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The economy grew by 0.2 percent in the second quarter from output in the first quarter, revised figures showed.

But on a 12-month basis, the economy shrank by 6.0 percent, Statistics Sweden, the country's official data agency, said in a statement.

Sweden's export-driven economy has been hit by weakening demand as consumers and companies cut back on spending amid the global financial turmoil and a lack of available credit.

Statistics Sweden said on July 31 that growth had been flat for the April-June period from the first quarter and down 6.2 percent on a 12-month basis.

The agency revised its second-quarter figures based on better-than-expected household spending and exports data.

It said household consumption fell by 1.8 percent year-on-year and exports were down 16.9 percent.

In July, it had said household spending dropped by 2.2 percent and exports by 18.0 percent.

Sweden's central bank said on September 3 that "the signs of a turnaround in the economy have become increasingly clear" but warned that unemployment will continue to rise through to 2011.

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