The article discusses the economic outlook for Scotland in 2003 and 2004. Despite a slow start to the year, factors like falling oil prices and improved business investment are expected to lead to stronger growth. Forecasters predict growth in major economies will be better this year compared to last. In Scotland, GDP growth is expected to be 1.3% in 2003 and 2.2% in 2004, with over 33 thousand new jobs created in 2003 and 44 thousand in 2004. Unemployment rates are projected to decrease slightly over the next two years.