The fact that the statistics agency Statec presents its half-yearly economic forecast on the day of the next Tripartite round is a coincidence. That has Statec director Tom Haas in an interview with daily newspaper clarified again a few days ago. At the first meeting of the social partners on May 12th, Haas had already given a foretaste of his company’s forecasts for economic growth, inflation and labor market development – among other things in the light of the scenario of an ongoing conflict in Iran.
A scenario that seems even more likely today, at the beginning of June. The Strait of Hormuz is still blocked and negotiations have once again come to a standstill. And yet, the statisticians note, prices are still low. “The markets are still optimistic that a quick solution will be found,” said Haas on Tuesday morning. “As long as that is still the case, the direct effects of this energy crisis will still be relatively limited.”
