Polish retail sales ease growth in May but still point to sustained consumption as pillar of growth

Polish retail sales grew 4.4% year on year in constant prices in May, a marked slowdown from the 7.6% y/y increase recorded in April.

Polish PPI eases decline rate slightly in May

Poland's producer price index fell 1.5% year on year in May, following a revised decline of 1.6% y/y in April.

Slovak unemployment stays at 3.71% in May

Unemployment in Slovakia stayed at 3.71% in May, the same as in the previous month. The April level was the lowest on record since 1993. Year on year, it dropped by 0.07 percentage points.

Who hold the most gold reserves?

In 2025, gold prices reached unprecedented levels, with spot gold trading at above $3,932 per troy ounce as of May 7th, an increase of over 83% within just a year.

Polish core inflation eases growth to 3.3% y/y in May

Poland’s core inflation, an indicator that measures price growth without including prices of food and energy, eased growth to 3.3% year on year in May after a gain of 3.4% y/y the preceding month.

Polish CPI growth nears central bank’s target after growing 4% y/y in May

Poland’s consumer price index rose 4% year on year in May, easing from 4.3% y/y the preceding month, data published by the national statistics office GUS on June 13 showed.

Hungary’s battery sector remains in deep recession

Global overcapacity, cooling demand and domestic operational setbacks are weighing on EV battery production.

Slovak inflation spikes to 4.1% y/y in May, highest since 2023

Consumer price indices in Slovakia increased by 4.1% year on year in May, the highest value since December, and returned to an accelerating trajectory after easing in April to 3.7% y/y.

Hungary’s headline inflation edges up despite cap on profit margins

Hungary’s annual inflation rate accelerated to 4.4% (chart) in May from 4.2% in April, slightly exceeding market expectations, despite the cap on profit margins on food and household items. Consumer prices rose by 0.2% month on month.

Slovak industry returns to decline of 0.4% y/y in April

Czech statisticians refine May inflation to 2.4% y/y

This is slower than the 2.8% y/y flash estimate released last week, but still a 0.6 percentage point acceleration on the 1.8% y/y April easing.

Fitch affirms Hungary’s 'BBB' rating, slashes 2025 growth forecast to 0.7%

Fitch Ratings has reaffirmed Hungary’s sovereign debt rating at 'BBB' with a stable outlook, the lowest tier of investment grade, but significantly cut its 2025 GDP growth projection to just 0.7%, down from the 2.5% it anticipated in December.

Czech unemployment eases to 4.2% in May

Czech unemployment level eased slightly by 0.1 percentage point in comparison to April to 4.2% in May (chart), as employers seek workforce for seasonal jobs in tourism and restaurants.

Czech industry maintains 2% y/y growth in April

Czech industrial production increased in real terms by 2% year on year and by 0.9% month on month in April (chart), maintaining a modest three-month growth trajectory to which it returned in February. In March industry grew by 1.4% y/y.

Hungarian retail sales rebound in April, driven by non-food categories

Hungary’s retail sales data positively surprised in April with a calendar-adjusted increase of 5% y/y, the strongest growth in over a year and above consensus. Unadjusted data showed a 6.8% (chart) increase.

Hungarian industry shows signs of life in April, but recovery still fragile

Poland’s fertility rate sinks to just below 1.1 in 2024, a new historic low

Poland’s fertility rate fell to a historic low of 1.099 in 2024, Poland’s statistical office GUS said in a report, which deepened concerns about the country’s shrinking and ageing population.

Czech inflation accelerates to 2.8% y/y in May, according to flash estimate

Growth of consumer price indices (inflation) accelerated to 2.8% year on year, according to the flash estimate released by the Czech Statistical Office.

Analysts forecast meagre growth for Hungary after disappointing Q1 GDP data

Hungary’s economy has struggled to regain momentum since mid-2022, alternating between marginal gains and contractions.

Polish GDP records solid 3.7% y/y growth in Q1

Poland's GDP grew by 3.7% year on year in the first quarter of 2025, easing by 0.2pp against the preceding quarter, seasonally adjusted preliminary data released by the statistical office GUS showed on June 2.