In the last two months of 2022, natural gas consumption was 12% lower than in the same months of previous years and at the beginning of 2023, the drop in consumption was even more pronounced. Part of industry reacted to the high gas prices by reducing production output and thus consumption. Government measures also contributed to a more rational use of gas. According to Eurostat, EU Member States reduced their gas consumption more than Slovenia between August and November, by an average of 20% compared to previous years and Scandinavian and Baltic countries by more than 40%. By mid-November, EU Member States were able to assure that their gas storage capacities were almost full, but since then the storage level has been gradually declining. According to preliminary data, gas consumption in Slovenia from 1 August 2022 to 20 January 2023 was almost 15% lower than the comparable average consumption over the last five years, which is in line with the EU recommendations for gas consumption reduction in the August 2022 to March 2023 period. 

The year-on-year growth of Slovenian industrial producer prices has gradually slowed, to 19.3% in December. Unlike in November, growth in foreign markets slowed (from 16.2% to 15.3%), while growth in the domestic market remained roughly unchanged (it increased from 23.2% to 23.3%). As economic activity weakens, price growth in the commodities group slowed further (19.4%), while growth in capital goods prices also declined slightly (10.2%). The increase in energy prices remained roughly unchanged (180%). The increase in consumer goods prices continued to strengthen (14.3%), especially of non-durable goods (15%), while price growth in durable goods weakened slightly (11.7%).

Year-on-year growth in the number of persons in employment was 1.9% in November, slightly lower than in previous months. It was strongest in construction, which is facing a major labour shortage. Employment of foreign workers contributed most to the overall growth in the number of persons in employment – its contribution was still 77% year-on-year in November. The share of foreigners in the total number of people in employment remained unchanged from the previous month (13.8%), while it increased by 1.3 p.p. year-on-year. Activities with the largest share of foreign workers are construction (47%), transportation and storage (32%) and administrative and support service activities (26%). In the first 11 months, the number of people in employment rose by an average of 2.5% year-on-year.