Swiss GDP growth will be lower next year than this, but the Swiss economy is still seen performing well in 2007, SNB chairman Jean-Pierre Roth said at a press conference following today's SNB's interest rate decision. While it is "difficult" to make a GDP projection for 2007, full-year growth next year will not attain this year's level which is seen slightly in excess of 2.5 pct: "growth will be lower next year, a weakening is in the pipeline," he said. Globally, a normalisation of growth can be observed in the US and in Europe, but growth rates will likely ease somewhat going forward, he said. Therefore, he predicted 2007 Swiss GDP growth potential is between 1.5-2.0 pct, and "rather nearer 1.5 pct than 2 pct". "Swiss economic growth should ease slightly in 2007, but the economy is still doing good," he said. This said, he continued, growth might come in slightly better than expected, given the unabated inflow of foreign workers which is boosting the job market. On the inflation outlook, he said that assuming the current, new three-month Libor rate of 1.5 pct, the SNB's price stability threshold of 2 pct might be jeopardized in 2008, cautioning the national bank "must remain vigilant".