Czech economy grows by 2% in Q1, according to preliminary estimate

Czechia's gross domestic product grew by 2% year on year and by 0.5% quarter on quarter in the first quarter of this year (chart), according to the preliminary estimate released by the Czech Statistical Office.

Hungary’s economy contracts in Q1, casting doubt on government’s growth targets

Hungary’s economy stagnated in Q1 2025 and fell 0.4% year on year (chart) according to seasonally adjusted data, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s earlier pledges of a growth “explosion” at the start of the year.

Sharp drop in Polish inflation paves way for rate cut at next central bank meeting

A sharper-than-expected fall in Polish inflation has increased the likelihood that the National Bank of Poland will resume interest rate cuts at next week’s policy meeting.

Falling Polish interest rates will squeeze banks' income

Two dozen Polish banks will need to seek new sources of income and diversify their portfolios in 2025 as falling interest rate squeeze their net interest income, the Polish Bank Association warned, PAP reported on April 29.

Slovak unemployment drops to 3.72% in March

Slovak unemployment slightly dropped to 3.72% in March, down by 0.07 percentage point from February and by 0.16 pp from March 2024, while the number of unemployed persons was the lowest on record since 1993.

Polish industrial production disappoints with expansion of just 2.5% y/y in March

Slovak GDP improves to 2.1% in 2024 after revision

Slovakia’s gross domestic product performance improved to 2.1% growth in 2024, following the spring revision of GDP growth in the years 2021-2024 released by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.

Poland’s core inflation rate holds steady at 3.6% y/y in March

Poland’s core inflation, an indicator that measures price growth excluding movement in prices of food and energy, came in at 3.6% y/y in March (chart) after posting the same reading in February, the National Bank of Poland said on April 16.

Polish inflation rate confirmed at 4.9% y/y in March

Although inflation remains above the National Bank of Poland’s target range of 1.5%-3.5%, the continued stability in price growth so far in 2025 has shifted the central bank’s monetary policy outlook.

Hungarian CPI posts surprise slowdown in March as fuel costs ease

Hungary's consumer price growth slowed more than expected in March to 4.7% (chart) from 5.6% from the previous month, marking the first decline after five consecutive months of acceleration.

Czech industry returns to growth of 1.5% y/y in February

Czech industrial production increased by 1.5% year on year and by 1.7% month on month, returning to mild growth after a series of unconvincing results.

Hungary’s industry downturn deepens before tariffs come into play

Hungary's industrial output in February plunged to levels last seen during the 2020 Covid lockdowns, with official data showing an 8.0% year-on-year contraction after adjusting for calendar effects and an 8.7% (chart) decline.

Czech inflation stays at 2.7% y/y in March, according to flash estimate

Czech consumer prices (inflation) rose by 2.7% year on year and by 0.1% month on month, according to the flash estimate released by the Czech Statistical Office.

Polish manufacturers continue in recovery mode in March, latest PMI reading shows

Poland's Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) inched up 0.1 points to 50.7 in March, the economic intelligence company S&P Global said on April 1.

Czech PMI posts 48.3 in March, highest since June 2022

The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for Czechia, compiled monthly by market intelligence company S&P Global, posted 48.3 in March.

Czech central bankers keep interest rate at 3.75%

Czech National Bank (CNB) kept the interest rate unchanged at 3.75%, meeting wide market expectations. The rate is the lowest since January 2022.

Polish retail sales disappoint in February

Polish retail sales fell 0.5% year on year in constant prices in February, defying the consensus, which expected a 3.2% annual increase.

Polish industrial production fall 2% y/y in February

Poland’s industrial production contracted 2% year on year at constant prices in February (chart), after a revised fall of 0.9% y/y the preceding month, unadjusted data from the statistical office GUS showed.

Polish PPI deflation deepens slightly in February

Poland's producer price index fell 1.3% year on year in February (chart), following a revised fall of 1% y/y in January, the country’s statistics office GUS said.

Slovak unemployment drops to 3.79% in February