Seasonally-adjusted GDP in the second quarter was down 0.3% compared to the first quarter of 2013, and down 2.2% year-on-year.

Meanwhile, in the EU GDP was up by 0.3% in the second quarter at the quarterly level. According to pundits, the favourable trends in the spring quarters, especially in Germany and France, may have influenced Slovenia's results in the third quarter.

A noticeable reversal in trends is not expected in Slovenia, as the growth of imports is still too weak to compensate for the considerable fall in domestic demand and investment.

According to Slovenian and foreign analytical institutions, the first signs of an economic rebound in Slovenia are expected towards the end of 2014.

The projections for Slovenia's GDP for this year range from a 2.4% to a 2.7% contraction, while the majority of financial institutions expect a drop of 0.7-1.4% next year.

An exception is the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), which has projected a 2.5% contraction for Slovenia in 2014.