Singapore GDP growth to moderate in Q4 on Omicron woes: poll

[SINGAPORE] Singapore's economic growth is expected to have moderated in the 4th quarter, partly hurt by uncertainty caused by the Omicron Covid-19 variant and analysts say the outlook for next year will hinge on the global progress made against the pandemic.

Gross domestic product (GDP) is seen expanding 5.4 per cent from the same period a year earlier, according to the median forecast of economists in a Reuters poll, marking the 4th straight quarter of growth. The economy grew 7.1 per cent in the 3rd quarter.

"The drop in y/y growth rates would be largely due to unfavourable base effects," said Brian Tan, regional economist at Barclays in a report, noting the year-ago sharp rebound from the pandemic-led downturn. He sees overall growth for 2021 at 6.8 per cent.

Singapore's economy is likely to grow around 7 per cent in 2021 and between 3 per cent and 5 per cent in 2022, according to official forecasts.

Growth in the city state has been picking up this year from the damage caused by virus-related restrictions and the sluggish global economy, as countries around the world shifted their strategies to living with the coronavirus.

However, the tourism hub has suspended the sale of tickets for arriving flights and buses under its quarantine-free travel programme last week as the Omicron variant spreads.

Singapore has vaccinated 87 per cent of its population. As of Monday (Dec 27), 38 per cent of the population has received their Covid-19 booster shot.

"Assuming that Omicron blows over by early 2022, then a step up in services momentum should materialise. Ditto for construction, where border relaxation may allow for more foreign workers to return," said Selena Ling, OCBC Bank's head of treasury research and strategy. She is expecting 3-5 per cent growth in 2022, in line with official forecast.

The central bank unexpectedly tightened its monetary policy at its last meeting in October amid mounting inflationary pressures caused by supply constraints and a recovery in the global economy.

Economists widely expect the central bank to tighten again in April next year as price pressures persist.

REUTERS