Data
Moldova’s GDP close to a standstill in 2024 due to weak agriculture
Value added generated by agriculture, accounting for 7.1% of GDP, contracted by 19% in 2024.
Polish core inflation rate eases to 3.6% y/y in February
Poland’s core inflation, an indicator that measures price growth without including prices of food and energy, eased growth to 3.6% y/y in February after a gain of 3.7% y/y the preceding month.
Number of foreign-invested companies in Uzbekistan grows by 340 in February to 15,503
China continues to extend lead in ranking of number of companies foreign investors have set up and backed in Central Asia's second largest economy. Russia second, Turkey third.
Kosovo’s economy expands by annual 4.08% in 4Q24
Strong growth reported in Kosovo's manufacturing sector, which expanded by 4.35%.
Polish inflation rate eases to 4.9%, raising hopes for faster decline to central bank target
Poland’s consumer price index grew 4.9% year on year in February, the same expansion rate as the heavily revised – due to the annual changes in the inflation basket – gain of 4.9% y/y the preceding month.
European defence industry is the global growth laggard, says Statista
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for increased European defence spending under the ReArm Europe plan, but Europe is trailing the other major arms producers badly.
Putin’s approval rating at 80%, trust remains high
Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to enjoy the trust of 83% of the Russian populace, according to a poll by the Public Opinion Foundation.
Hungary's automotive sector continues to struggle amid weak demand
Hungary's automotive industry, a key pillar of the country's export-driven economy, continued to show signs of strain in January, as the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office confirmed ongoing declines in production and new orders.
North Macedonia’s central bank maintains key interest rate at 5.35%
Central bank says global geopolitical uncertainties and rising protectionist policies have reinforced the need for prudence.
Hungarian government to introduce caps on supermarkets' profit margin to rein in inflation
The Hungarian government will cap retailers' profit margins on some staples at 10% from the middle of March and last until the end of May.
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Slovak industry falls by a disappointing 5.2% y/y in January
Slovakia’s industrial output fell by 5.2% year on year and by 7.3% month on month, significantly deepening its mild December dip of 0.1% y/y and ending the growth period registered for much of the second half of 2024.
Moldova’s inflation eases to 8.6% y/y in February as government subsidises electricity prices
Moldova's government announced subsidies after Gazprom cut off gas supplies previously used to generate electricity.
North Macedonia’s FX reserves up 11.8% y/y at end-February
North Macedonia’s gross international reserves reach €4.861bn at end-February.
Private consumption fuelled Romania's modest 2024 GDP growth
Romania's GDP grew by just 0.9% in 2024 as agriculture and consumption sectors shrank while industry stagnated.
78% of women in Eastern Europe, Africa and Middle East have ambitions to start a business
Even in war-torn Ukraine, two-thirds of women are considering starting a business as they continue to play a critical role in the wartime economy, says new MasterCard research.
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Slovak GDP grew by 2% in 2024, the highest since 2021
Slovakia’s gross domestic product increased at constant prices by 2% in 2024. It was the highest GDP growth since 2021, Slovak statisticians reported following the confirmation of the 2024 final quarter figures.
Romania’s retail sales show signs of fatigue in January
Retail sales volume in Romania increased by 4.1% y/y in January, half the 8.6% y/y advance in 2024 and 9.2% y/y in Q4 2024, according to data published by the statistics office.
Romania’s PMI inches up in February from record low in January
The Manufacturing PMI in Romania inched up in February to 48.3 from the record low of 46.1 in January, remaining significantly below the 50 neutral mark for the eighth consecutive month, according to BCR Romania.
Turkey delivers third consecutive 250-bp rate cut in line with expectations
Policy rate now stands at 42.5% versus official inflation of 39%.
Central Asia and Caucasus are some of the most hazardous places to drive in the world
Traffic-related deaths and injuries taking an economic toll.