Since energy prices began to rise this spring, more Swedish companies have begun to review their own prices.
"More companies than usual are responding that they intend to raise prices. This is reasonable considering that energy costs have risen, which is affecting many companies and creating upward pressure," says Albin Kainelainen.
How companies choose to act affects inflation, which in turn affects the Swedish Central Bank's decisions on the policy rate.
This is one of the indicators that both we and the Swedish Central Bank use to determine how inflation is viewed going forward, says Director General Kainelainen.
At the same time, the mood in the economy is improving.
KI's so-called barometer indicator rose to 107.1 in September, from 105.1 in August. This is the fifth consecutive month the indicator has increased.
This means that companies see that the economy is developing well and that it will likely develop even better in the future.
Leaving the recession
The figures show that the economy is growing rapidly at the moment, but also that things look better in the future.
"The Swedish economy has grown quite rapidly in recent years. Growth this year looks to be quite high and we are now leaving the recession," says Kainelainen.
The household confidence indicator rose to 102.2, from 98.4 in August.
Over a slightly longer period, Swedish households have seen incomes rise faster than prices, so they have gained increased purchasing power.
Surviving an expensive winter
Several factors point to a somewhat tougher winter for households. For example, the second part of the temporary tax cuts on gasoline and diesel will disappear from December 1, unless politicians are willing or able to extend the discount.
If you look at households as a whole, of course households can handle it. Then it affects different households differently.
There will be a bigger blow when the temporary reduction in food VAT expires.
And its removal will not take place until 2028, says Kainelainen.
