The trade surplus for Switzerland unexpectedly widened to 1.84B from a revised reading of 1.46B in September due to a 5.5% decline in imports despite the appreciation in the Swiss franc. Meanwhile, exports fell 4.6% in October, which suggests that demands from the global economy may remain subdued well into the next year as the Euro-Zone, Switzerland’s biggest trading partner, slipped into a recession. The Swiss National Bank stated that the economy may contract in 2009, which could lead policymakers to ease policy further over the coming months in order to avoid a severe downturn in the economy.