The uneven recession in the eurozone is now coupled with a downturn in the Czech Republic and sharply falling economic activity in Poland, according to the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation’s European Industrial Outlook, a report covering 14 major industries.

The report separately analyzes the distinct regions of Western Europe and Central Europe. The former generally comprises the 17 countries of the currency union (eurozone), while the latter includes the three largest economies of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE3): the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland. All forecasts are based on a proprietary MAPI model.

Kris Bledowski, Ph.D., MAPI senior economist and report author, forecasts GDP in the eurozone to remain in negative territory in 2013, declining by 0.3 percent before a modest increase to 1.4 percent in 2014. Bledowski envisions 0.7 percent GDP growth in Central Europe in 2013 and 2 percent growth in 2014.

“Domestic demand continues to soften and businesses are refraining from adding capacity despite low cost of capital, gripped by political and institutional uncertainty,” Bledowski said. “As falling employment drags down income, social tensions will simmer and possibly rise.”

Manufacturing production is expected to be negative in the eurozone in 2013, declining by 1.1 percent before an increase to 2 percent in 2014. Despite current headwinds, prospects are brighter in Central Europe, where manufacturing production is anticipated to grow by 4.7 percent in 2013 and by 6.6 percent in 2014.

“There is a better sectoral situation in Central Europe between stronger and weaker industries than in the eurozone, which leads to a higher aggregate for the Central Europe region,” Bledowski said. 

In the eurozone, the report predicts that only one of the 14 industries – food and beverages – will show growth in 2013. In 2014, seven industries are anticipated to grow, with computers and electronics in the lead at 5.5 percent.

In Central Europe, seven of 14 industries are expected to show growth in 2013, and 10 should increase in 2014. Chemicals is forecast to lead in 2013, at 5.3 percent; for 2014, rubber and plastics should grow by 7.4 percent.

Bledowski reports that no industries are in the accelerating growth (recovery) phase of the business cycle in the eurozone, while one – chemicals – is in the decelerating growth (expansion) phase. Nine industries are in the accelerating decline phase (either early recession or mid-recession) and four are in the decelerating decline phase (late recession or very mild recession).

In Central Europe, one industry – paper and pulp – is in accelerating growth, four are in decelerating growth, five are in accelerating decline and four are in decelerating decline.

“The eurozone’s steadily rising current account surplus (1.9 percent of GDP in 2012 and projected 2.5 percent to 3.0 percent in 2013 and 2014, respectively) will be difficult to reconcile with a fast recovery in 2014 based solely on external demand,” Bledowski said. “As households and businesses spend less, output can grow only if either governments or foreigners, or both, spend more. Yet these trends are unlikely to hold; the private sector is deleveraging while fiscal authorities shrink budgets.”