TALLINN, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Estonia's central bank said on Tuesday gross domestic product (GDP) may fall by almost 9 percent in 2009, according to the bank's worst case scenario.
"If this development is realised then, in our estimation, the economic fall in Estonia may decrease by almost 9 percent," the Estonian central bank said in a statement, noting that the economic and financial crisis has affected Estonia's main trading partners more than previously estimated.
In November, the central bank said that its worst case scenario forecasts was for a fall of 4.5 percent in 2009.
The Estonian central bank did not offer a new base scenario forecast. Its existing one sees GDP falling by 2.1 percent according to its autumn forecast.
The new prediction was given in a briefing to opposition politicians as the coalition government of Prime Minister Andrus Ansip tries to make a second round of deep cut to the 2009 state budget. (Reporting David Mardiste, editing by Mike Peacock)