Czech Republic
Central Europeans overwhelmingly oppose Trumpist narratives about free speech, 2025 Media Freedom Poll shows
Citizens of Czechia, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia oppose the Trump administration’s narratives about free speech as allegedly not requiring the regulation of social media, with nearly 90% demanding that online platforms act against hate speech.
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Czech unemployment stagnates at 4.3% in April
Czech unemployment remained at 4.3% in April, the same level as in March. Year on year, the unemployment increased by 0.6 percentage point, or by 38,462 persons.
EU Commissioner asks Czechs to wait to sign Dukovany nuclear contract
Czech media speculated that the European Commission could take action over the Dukovany nuclear tender, including a possible review of the selection of KHNP.
EBRD cuts 2025 growth forecasts citing tariffs and global uncertainty
Development bank lowers forecasts for Emerging Europe, Central Asia and North Africa as slowdowns in Germany and China take their toll.
COMMENT: Central Europe’s diverging economic paths challenge regional policy synchronisation – ING
The economic trajectories of Central and Eastern European countries are drifting apart, with growth, inflation, and policy direction showing increasing divergence.
War is a growing concern across Europe – Statista
VE Day, or Victory in Europe Day, is celebrated on May 8 each year to mark the formal end of World War II in Europe, reports Statista.
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Czech industry output increases by 1.4% y/y in March
Czech industrial production increased by 1.4% year-on-year and by 0.4% month-on-month in March (chart), driven by electricity production and maintaining the growth trajectory.
Czech National Bank cuts by 25bp as easing cycle comes to an end
The Czech National Bank reduced its base interest rate by 25 basis points to 3.5% on May 7, marking its fourth consecutive rate cut and signalling that the easing cycle is nearing its end, ING said in a note on May 7.
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Czech inflation slows down to 1.8% y/y in April, flash estimate shows
Growth of the consumer price indices slowed down to 1.8% year on year and dropped by 0.1% month on month in April (chart), according to the flesh estimate released by the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO).
UK insect numbers plummet by two thirds in three years, Bugs Matter survey shows
The population of flying insects in the United Kingdom has fallen by two thirds in just three years, according to new findings from a nationwide “Bugs Matter” citizen survey, raising alarm among ecologists and conservation groups.
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Czech PMI inches up to 48.9 in April
The seasonally adjusted Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI), compiled monthly by the market intelligence company S&P Global, posted 48.9 in April (chart).
EU swaps China for Russia in procurement of rare earth metals
The EU is increasingly turning to China to source hard-to-find rare earth metals and dropping previous import deals with Russia.
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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.
Trump policies won’t harm Emerging Europe badly – and will actively benefit Russia
Latest wiiw forecasts show little direct impact on Central and Southeast Europe from Trump trade wars.
Incoming German government compromises on carbon offsets to boost flagging economy
Germany’s incoming government has conditionally endorsed the European Union’s proposed 2040 climate goal and backed the EC's recommended 90% emissions reduction target but only if international carbon offsets and carbon removals are permitted.
How Europe has weaned itself off Russian gas in the last three years
In 2021, Eastern European countries imported almost half of their gas from Russia. Only two countries in the region – Albania and Kosovo – were wholly independent of Russian gas.
COMMENT: Make no mistake: Trump’s tariff turmoil is a major economic crisis
A wave of erratic tariff announcements from the United States has further battered already the already weak Eurozone economic indicators, with last week's sharp decline in the ZEW Economic Sentiment Index collapsing further.
New study reveals extent of Russian disinformation targeting Emerging Europe
'Pravda network' targeting regions of geopolitical interest for the Kremlin with negative impact on democracy and regional stability.
COMMENT: Could the US strike a deal to restart Nord Stream gas pipeline?
US President Donald Trump has made it clear that he wants to do business with Russia and tap into its vast raw material resources. But restarting the Nord Stream gas pipeline is the only US-Russian business project that looks viable.
COMMENT: US tariffs set to squeeze European corporate earnings across multiple sectors – Fitch Ratings
US President Donald Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs on European imports – set at 20% for EU member states and 10% for the UK – are poised to curtail revenue and profitability growth across several corporate sectors in Europe, according Fitch.