“The most drastic measures since the war” created shock waves in large parts of the Norwegian economy in the spring of 2020. In several industries there was an abrupt halt. For the first time, an overview is now being presented that shows how the corona pandemic affected the economy in the Norwegian counties. The review by Statistics Norway (SSB) finds that the economic decline was distributed very unevenly in different parts of Norway in the first corona year. Worst in the west It was worst beyond the county in Western Norway, even though the oil industry received generous crisis packages from the government. In Møre and Romsdal, the gross product fell by 8.2 per cent. In Vestland county it fell by 6.2 per cent. – The economy in Møre and Romsdal is characterized by a lot of maritime activity. Among other things within shipping and fishing. It was shipping in particular that contributed to the decline in gross domestic product in the county, writes SSB in its review. Regional director Espen Remme in NHO Møre og Romsdal is not particularly surprised. – We probably have a business community that is quite quick to cut back when there are bad prospects. – How is the situation now? – Pending. Many companies take a darker view of 2023 than 2022 due to inflation, interest rates and the tax package from the government, Remme answers. NHO DIRECTOR: Espen Remme in NHO Møre og Romsdal. Photo: Per-Ivar Kvalsvik / news Vestland county naturally has many industrial similarities with its neighbor to the north. – Alongside the sharp decline in accommodation and catering, health and land and air transport, oil refining and the chemical industry, shipping made a major contribution to the decline in Vestland as well, writes SSB. The third Westland county, Rogaland, suffered a slightly milder economic impact, with a fall of 4.4 per cent. Research and finance in Oslo At the other end of the list is Oslo, despite the city’s population having the strictest and longest-lasting restrictions, especially in the nightlife industry. But in the capital there was actually growth in several industries. The financial industry alone increased the gross product by 0.8 percentage points. Due to high activity in coronary-related research, there was also growth in the scientific industry by 0.7 per cent. Overall, the gross product in the capital fell by only 1.7 per cent. CLOSED BUSINESS: Restaurants and bars, here Louise at Aker Brygge in Oslo, had to abruptly close their doors in March 2020. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB Closed border brought more trade Both Viken and several of the other Austland counties experienced growth in trade. The reason was closed borders with Sweden, writes SSB. Thus the “Swedish trade” disappeared and Austrians had to shop more in Norway.
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Corona hit the economy hardest in Western Norway – news Vestland
