According to the government's macroeconomic forecaster, Slovenia's economy will slow down somewhat from last year, when GDP expanded by 4.9%, but growth remains fairly robust and stable.

There are some risk factors to the latest forecast, with IMAD highlighting unforeseen developments in the international environment as the main risk factor. Domestic risks remain balanced for the first two years.

Exports, the main generator of growth, will also cool down somewhat in this and the coming year before gaining momentum again in 2020.

Following last year's expansion of 10.7%, IMAD projects the exports to grow by 8.2% this year and by 6.6% in 2019 before picking up in 2020 to 7.1%.

According to the forecaster, exports will still exceed imports this year, when they are expected to grow by 8%, before the trend turns in the next two years. In 2019, imports are to increase by 7.1% and in 2020 by 7.3%.

Investment in capital assets will increase by 9% this year, which is 1.7 points lower than in 2017. The trend will continue in 2019 and 2020, when the figure is to stand at 8.5% and 7.5%, respectively.

On the other hand, an upturn is forecast for domestic consumption this year before it starts to slow down again next year. Following last year's increase of 1.9%, domestic consumption will speed up by 2.7% this year, but then slow down to 2.6% in 2019 and to 2.2% in 2020.

General government spending, which was up 0.5% last year, will hit 2.7% this year, followed by 2% in 2019 and 1.5% in 2020.

Despite the slowdown, IMAD believes positive trends will also continue on the labour market, which is however already showing signs of pressure from the strong economic growth.

After rising by 2.9% last year, Slovenia's employment rate is to reach 2.8% this year, 1.5% in 2019 and 0.8% in 2020.

Furthermore IMAD's forecast shows a moderate growth in inflation, rising from 1.4% last year to 1.8% this year, to 2.1% next year and to 2.3% in 2020.