New forecasts point to continued Dutch economic recovery

A string of economic forecasts out this week point to the continued recovery of the Dutch economy, broadcaster Nos says on Thursday.

The European Commission, Rabobank and ING have all just published new upward forecasts for this year and 2016.

The European Commission, which had put Dutch 2016 economic growth at 1.6% in May, is most pessimistic of the three in its autumn forecast. It puts Dutch growth a 2% this year, rising to 2.1% in 2016 and 2.3% in 2017.

‘The stage is thus set for a domestic demand-led recovery despite temporary headwinds from adverse global economic development,’ the commission said in its review.

‘With domestic demand-driven growth proving especially favourable for employment growth, the unemployment rate is expected to decline further to 6.6% in 2016 and 6.3% in 2017.’

Rabobank puts this year’s growth at 2.25%, rising to 2.75% in 2016, while both ING and ABN Amro have a figure of 2.5% for next year.