Spain’s economy remains bright spot amid Euro-area slowdown

Tourists and pedestrians walk inside the Boqueria market in Barcelona

Spain remained an economic bright spot in the euro zone in late 2018 even though the country, like the rest of the region, faces a weaker outlook this year. Growth unexpectedly accelerated to 0.7 percent in the fourth quarter, contrasting with figures reported by Germany, France and Italy, where trade tensions, violent protests and budget struggles hobbled growth. Spanish output was propelled by consumer and government spending and a surge in exports. Government spending was buoyed by a hiring push by the Socialist administration. Investment declined.

Spain’s economy has maintained momentum amid increasingly uncertain prospects – clocking its 21st-straight quarter of expansion and annual growth of 2.5 percent. But political uncertainty has risen in the euro area’s fourth-largest economy as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez struggles to pass a spending plan for 2019. Spain also isn’t immune to some of the headwinds buffeting its neighbors.

Spain’s central bank expects expansion of 2.2 percent in 2019, but Governor Pablo Hernandez de Cos said earlier this week that the slowdown in the region “poses downside risks” to the domestic outlook. Italy’s economy may have slipped into recession at the end of last year.

Drags on euro-area economic growth that initially appeared to be only temporary have proven to be somewhat more intractable. Stagnating demand in China means Germany’s carmakers will continue to struggle after nearly plunging the economy into a recession. December retail sales in Germany plunged more than expected, while France saw business disrupted by Yellow-Vest protests.

The International Monetary Fund cut its 2019 euro-area projection to 1.6 percent last week — down 0.3 percentage point from October. The region’s three biggest economies are seen expanding less. Bloomberg