The finance ministry lowered its growth forecast for this year and next year. Instead of a 0.5% contraction this year, as forecasted in July, the ministry now expects the economy to fall by 1.0%. Instead of growth next year of 1.0%, the ministry now expects growth of 0.7%. The ministry also expects household consumption to fall this year by 3.0% (instead of 2.2%) and by 0.5% next year (instead of slight growth). The ministry’s new budget proposal will take these new forecasts into account.