The document summarizes the Eesti Pank Economic Statement from December 10, 2014. It notes that global and euro area economic growth is slower than expected. Inflation in the euro area has fallen and interest rates remain low. While the Russian rouble has fallen against the euro, trade sanctions against Russia have not significantly harmed the Estonian economy. The forecast predicts that Estonian economic growth will pick up slowly, reaching its long-term sustainable rate by 2016, though the shrinking population means GDP will grow more slowly than GDP per capita. The general government budget is expected to remain in deficit through 2016.