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Sweden cuts main interest rate to 1 pct

[December 19, 2012]  STOCKHOLM (AP) -- Sweden's central bank has cut its key interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 1 percent as inflationary pressures remain benign and problems in Europe weigh on the Scandinavian country's economy.

Tuesday's decision was widely expected.

The Riksbank also says that its main interest rate will likely "remain at this low level for the coming year" due to the economic slowdown, rising unemployment and subdued inflation.

By the end of 2013, it expects inflation to start edging up as the global economic recovery gathers steam, partly on the back of recent measures taken by the 17 EU countries that use the euro to get a grip on their 3-year debt crisis.

The Riksbank says the weaker European economy has so far had "a clear effect" on Sweden.

[Associated Press]

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