FX.co ★ Sweden Economic Confidence Little Changed

Sweden’s Economic Tendency Indicator inched up to 99.9 in March 2026 from a revised 99.7 in February, continuing to signal sentiment broadly in line with normal conditions. Overall business confidence was largely unchanged, with most sectors at typical levels. The exception was construction, where sentiment strengthened further to above-normal, supported by more optimistic employment plans. Manufacturing confidence also improved, primarily on the back of stronger production expectations. By contrast, sentiment in retail trade deteriorated markedly, reflecting downgraded sales expectations and a weaker assessment of recent developments, while confidence in the services sector also declined. Consumer sentiment remained below normal, as increasingly pessimistic expectations for the Swedish economy and household finances, together with ongoing caution toward major purchases, continued to weigh. Firms, on balance, expect to increase selling prices at a normal pace, though pricing plans in retail remain subdued, as anticipated price cuts following the food VAT reduction continue to hold back expectations.