Gross domestic product fell 4.2 percent in the October-to-December quarter from a year earlier, advanced figures from the Census and Statistics Department showed Wednesday. That was worse than the median estimate of a 2.9 percent contraction in a Bloomberg survey of economists. It compared to a 4.5 percent decline in the third quarter, which was revised to a 4.6 percent drop in Wednesday’s report.

For the entire year, the economy shrank 3.5 percent, which a bit poorer than estimates of around a 3 percent contraction both among economists and by the government.

Weak trade as the external environment deteriorated and disruptions continued along the border with China last year hurt the economy, a government spokesperson said in a statement accompanying the data release.

“Domestic demand slackened, dragged initially by the fifth wave of local epidemic and subsequently by tightened financial conditions,” the spokesperson added.

“Overall, the economy was very weak,” said Iris Pang, chief economist for Greater China at ING Groep NV. She cited office and shop vacancy rates that impacted employment and spending confidence, as well as the lack of visitors to the city.

Covid and high global inflation also impacted international trade volumes, she added.

Hong Kong’s economy was battered throughout 2022. The city struggled through a brutal wave of omicron infections toward the start of the year, forcing businesses to close and spurring officials to introduce a slew of social distancing measures that curbed activity. Hotel quarantine regulations for inbound travelers lasted for much of the year as well, deterring visitors and hurting activity.

The weakening global economy and China’s Covid-fueled slowdown were other significant factors, contributing to Hong Kong’s suffering trade figures. Exports plunged in December by the most since the 1950s, with shipments to China alone plummeting 30 percent in the month from a year prior amid disruptions with the mainland and Covid outbreaks there.

This year is looking better after the city and mainland China dropped Covid curbs. Hong Kong’s economy is projected to expand about 2.8 percent, according to the median estimate in a Bloomberg survey. China’s reopening was a factor behind the International Monetary Fund upgrading its global economic outlook for 2023.

Yet monetary policy tightening across the globe at the same time as demand for goods fades means 2023 will still cast a shadow. Hong Kong Financial Secretary Paul Chan last month urged caution, saying that there are still “uncertainties” to be aware of.

“The recovery isn’t fast and strong enough,” Chan said during a local television program. “Overall, some policies need to be adjusted and we can’t press ahead as we did before.” Chan will deliver his financial budget speech on Feb. 22.

“This year will be better” at least domestically, ING’s Pang said, though she added that “international trade will still be dull in 2023 as the global economy weakens further.”

The city’s monetary authority makes interest-rate decisions in line with the US Federal Reserve, given the local currency’s peg to the dollar. As the Fed embarked on an aggressive tightening cycle last year, that meant the Hong Kong Monetary Authority did too, following which the city’s biggest lenders have raised their own best lending rates. That has signaled higher borrowing costs for property owners during a rare downturn for the real estate market.

The Fed is widely expected to raise interest rates by 25 basis points on Wednesday, moderating its pace but also effectively ensuring a benchmark rate increase by the HKMA on Thursday.

The local dollar meanwhile, is inching back toward the weak end of its 7.75-7.85 per dollar trading band versus the greenback. A breach of the weak end would prompt the HKMA to start mopping liquidity to boost the currency — a move that would send borrowing costs higher, adding headwinds to the city’s economy.