Bank of Lithuania raises economic growth forecast and notes investment gender gap

The Bank of Lithuania has updated its economic forecasts, projecting a GDP growth of 2.7% this year and 2.4% next year. This represents a 0.4 percentage point increase in next year's growth forecast compared to June. While the economy remains on a growth path, officials note that residents may feel the impact of rising energy costs and inflation, which is expected to exceed 5% this year.

Despite these pressures, wages are projected to rise faster than prices, supporting purchasing power. Economic growth is expected to be supported by exports and favorable investment conditions driven by EU-funded projects and increased defense spending. The bank also noted that the impact of the second stage of pension reform has been more moderate than anticipated, with much of the transferred funds remaining unspent.

In terms of individual financial activity, there is a significant gender gap in investing within Lithuania. While the number of female investors grew by approximately 37% between 2024 and 2025, men still represent a larger portion of active investors. Data shows that women manage about a quarter of the population's total investment assets, with average portfolios of approximately 8,000 euros compared to 14,000 euros for men.