Autumn 2021 Economic Forecast for Spain and the EU

The EU economy is rebounding from the pandemic recession faster than expected. As vaccination campaigns progressed and restrictions started to be lifted, growth resumed in spring and continued unabated through summer, underpinned by the re-opening of the economy.

Despite mounting headwinds, the EU economy is projected to keep expanding over the forecast horizon, achieving a growth rate of 5%, 4.3% and 2.5% in 2021, 2022 and 2023 respectively. Growth rates for the euro area are projected to be identical to those for the EU in 2021 and 2022, and 2.4% in 2023. This outlook depends heavily on two factors: the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and the pace at which supply adjusts to the rapid turnaround in demand following the re-opening of the economy.

The European economy returns to an expansionary path faster than expected

At almost 14% in annual terms, the rate of GDP growth in the EU in the second quarter of 2021 was the highest reading on record – as high as the unprecedented fall in GDP in the same period last year, during the first wave of the pandemic. The EU economy regained the pre-pandemic output level in the third quarter of 2021 and moved from recovery into expansion.

Domestic demand is set to continue to drive this expansion. Improvements in labour markets and a projected decline in savings should contribute to a sustained pace of consumer spending. The implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is also starting to play an important role in boosting private and public investment.

Nevertheless, the growth momentum is facing new headwinds. Bottlenecks and disruptions in global supply are weighing on activity in the EU, in particular in its highly integrated manufacturing sector. Moreover, after having fallen sharply in 2020, energy prices, particularly for natural gas, have increased at a tumultuous pace over the last month and are now well above pre-pandemic levels. This is set to weigh on consumption and investment.

The labour market is due to continue improving

EU labour markets improved markedly thanks to the easing to restrictions on consumer-related activities. In the second quarter of this year, the EU economy created about 1.5 million new jobs, many workers exited job retention schemes and the unemployment rate decreased. However, total headcount employment in the EU was still 1% shy of its pre-pandemic level.

Since then, unemployment has declined further. At 6.8%, the EU unemployment rate in August stood just above the rate recorded at the end of 2019. Data released after the cut-off date of the forecast show that it declined slightly further in September. The Commission’s business surveys reveal emerging pockets of labour shortages, particularly in sectors where activity is surging most. The longer these last, the higher the risk that they dampen activity and feed into inflation through wage pressures.

The forecast projects employment in the EU to grow at a rate of 0.8% this year, 1% in 2022 and 0.6% in 2023. Employment is expected to surpass its pre-crisis level next year and move into expansion in 2023. Unemployment in the EU is forecast to decrease from 7.1% this year to 6.7% and 6.5% in 2022 and 2023, respectively. In the euro area, it is projected at 7.9%, 7.5% and 7.3% over the three years.

Lower deficits than expected

Improved growth prospects point to lower deficits in 2021 than expected in spring. After reaching 6.9% of GDP in 2020, the aggregate deficit in the EU should narrow marginally to 6.6% in 2021 on the back of the still high fiscal support in the beginning of the year.

With support measures and the operation of automatic stabilisers set to unwind as the economic expansion continues, the EU’s aggregate deficit is forecast to halve to around 3.6% of GDP in 2022 and to decrease further to 2.3% in 2023.

After reaching around 92% in the EU (99% in the euro area), the aggregate debt-to-GDP ratio is set to broadly stabilise this year, and start declining in 2022, reaching 89% of GDP in 2023 (97% in the euro area).

Temporary global price pressures drive inflation to ten-year high

Following several years of low inflation, the strong resumption of economic activity in the EU and many advanced economies has been accompanied by a pick-up in inflation that exceeded predictions.

Annual inflation in the euro area rose from a negative -0.3% in the last quarter of 2020, to 2.8% in the third quarter of 2021. The October reading was 4.1%, a rate matched only once since the publication of euro area inflation data began in 1997.

This strong pick-up in inflation is mainly driven by the surge in energy prices, but appears also linked to a broad set of post-pandemic economic adjustments, suggesting that the current elevated levels are largely transitory.

Inflation in the euro area is forecast to peak at 2.4% in 2021, before declining to 2.2% in 2022 and 1.4% in 2023, as energy prices are set to gradually level out. For the EU, inflation is expected at 2.6% in 2021, 2.5% in 2022 and 1.6% in 2023.

Uncertainty and risks surrounding the growth outlook remain very high

Although the impact of the pandemic on economic activity has weakened considerably, COVID-19 has not yet been defeated and the recovery is heavily dependent on its evolution, both within and outside the EU. In light of the recent surge of cases in many countries, the reintroduction of restrictions impacting on economic activity cannot be ruled out. In the EU this risk is particularly relevant in Member States with relatively low vaccination rates.

Economic risks also relate to the potentially protracted impact of the current supply constraints and bottlenecks.

The main upside risk to the growth outlook is related to the potential efficiency gains and durable productivity advances triggered by the pandemic-induced structural changes. Investments fostered by the RRF and the accompanying structural reforms will be instrumental in this respect. Overall, the balance of risks surrounding this forecast has tilted to the downside.

Inflation may turn out higher than forecast if supply constraints are more persistent and above-productivity wage increases are passed on to consumer prices.

Economic forecast for Spain

Indicators	2020	2021	2022	2023
GDP growth (%, yoy)	-11	4,6	5,5	4,4
Inflation (%, yoy)	-0,3	2,8	2,1	0,7
Unemployment (%)	15,5	15,2	14,3	13,9
Public budget balance (% of GDP)	-11	-8,1	-5,2	-4,2
Gross public debt (% of GDP)	120	121	118	117
Current account balance (% of GDP)	0,8	0,3	0,8	1

More information

Press Release – European Commission