Switzerland’s inflation is set to come to a standstill with the Consumer Price Index expected to print at 0.0% in the year to February. The growth outlook remains decidedly bleak, with a survey of economists conducted by Bloomberg calling for GDP to contract at an increasing pace through the third quarter of 2009, meaning inflation could well turn negative in the near to medium term. This poses a serious threat to consumption and investment because if individuals and businesses expect prices to fall in the future they will perpetually delay spending to get the best possible deal, putting the brakes on economic growth altogether. Indeed, Swiss National Bank Vice-Chairman Philipp Hildebrand has even suggested forex market intervention to check the deflation threat.