Sweden — The Swedish Riksbank is keeping the key interest rate unchanged at 1.75 percent but has announced that, provided the outlook for inflation and the economy holds steady, interest rate hikes are expected to begin this year. SEB senior economist Robert Bergqvist has long held the view that interest rates need to rise when the economy is strong and inflation risks are increasing, and he welcomes the Riksbank’s move to start raising rates, thereby easing off the accelerator slightly.