As inflationary pressure can vary according to demand and changes in the level of resource utilisation, the events caused the Riksbank and other central banks to decide to lower their instrumental rates shortly after the attacks. Now that almost exactly nine months have passed, we can conclude that the impact on the global economy was less than feared, although some sectors, such as the airline industry, were hard hit. Furthermore, we are seeing increasing signs that economic activity is improving both in the USA and Europe. One factor that often contributes to turnarounds in economic activity is companies’ stockbuilding. When stocks are well-filled and sales decline, companies cut back on production so that it becomes even lower than demand. This destocking then pushes economic activity down to begin with. When the cutback in stocks gradually reaches an end, companies can increase production again without waiting for demand to increase. This gives increased strength to the upturn in activity. It is probable that this is the case right now; according to several indicators production has begun to increase and a certain amount of optimism is beginning to spread. The total economic policy is expansionary in many countries, which provides additional fuel to the sequence of events. The economic situation in the USA and Europe This means that demand on Sweden’s most important export markets is increasing. The turnaround has been particularly noticeable in the USA. There, both residential construction and household demand have been upheld during the economic slowdown by stimulation policy.
Inflation: outcomes and the main scenario Percentage 12-month change 6  6  KPI CPI UND1X  5  5  UNDINHX UNDIMPX  4  4  3  3  2  2  1  1  0  0  -1  -1  -2 1995  -2 1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  Sources: Statistics Sweden and the Riksbank  BIS Review 37/2002  9