NETHERLANDS

摘要

The slowdown across the Euro zone particularly affects the Netherlands due to its open, export-oriented economy. The manufacturing PMI fell to a 26-month low of 48.9 in September. Stalling growth means the Finance Ministry has raised its forecast for the budget deficit in 2012 to 2.9% of GDP (from 2.2%). However, the IMF argued, that Euro zone countries with low borrowing costs such as the Netherlands should be less focused on deficit reduction than promoting growth. Inflation climbed to 2.7% (y-o-y) in September, from 2.6% in August, on the back of increased utility costs.