Data
Russian inflation at 7.4% in January ahead of CBR policy meeting
Russian consumer price inflation posted 0.9% month on month and 7.4% year on year in January 2024, according to the latest data from RosStat.
Clear east-west divide in EU for gender balance in science and engineering
Female employment in science and engineering is well above 50% in multiple regions of Central and Southeast Europe, Eurostat figures show.
Slovak economy best performer in Central Europe with 1.2% growth in Q4
Economic growth above 1% for the whole year 2023.
Hungary's economic recovery stalls in Q4
GDP flat in Q4 and for the full year, adjusted GDP dropped 0.8%.
Russia’s current account surplus up to $6.4bn in January
The current account surplus of Russia’s balance of payments in January 2024 improved notably to $6.4bn from $0.7bn seen in December 2023, according to the preliminary estimates of the Central Bank of Russia (CBR).
Romania’s industrial output shrinks by 4.9% in 2023
Industrial activity has deteriorated in Romania, with the overall industrial output index (chart) contracting by 4.9% y/y in 2023 according to data published by the statistics office INS. Romanian industry has been losing ground since before COVID.
Polish economic growth picks up to 1.7% y/y in Q4, flash estimate shows
Polish GDP expanded 1.7% year on year in the fourth quarter, (chart) picking up versus a gain of 0.3% y/y in the preceding three months, seasonally adjusted data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS) showed in a flash estimate on February 14.
Romanian central bank keeps policy rate at 7%
BNR expects steady disinflation after headline inflation dropped from a peak of 16.8% y/y in November 2022 to 6.6% y/y in December 2023.
Slovenia’s industrial output down 10.2% y/y in December
In 2023 as a whole, industrial production declined by 5.3%.
Romania’s trade gap narrows by 15% y/y to 9.1% of GDP in 2023
Romania’s trade deficit (chart) narrowed by 15% year on year to €28.9bn in 2023 and the gap-to-GDP ratio narrowed from 11.9% in 2022 (the widest value in the past decade) to 9.1% in 2023 (preliminary bne IntelliNews estimate).
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Slovak industrial production declined by 0.6% in 2023
The key automobile industry registered a y/y growth of 4.9%, the highest since 2018.
Inflation in Ukraine for January 2024 fell to 4.7%, down from 5.1% in December
Inflation in Ukraine for January 2024 fell to 4.7%, down from 5.1% in both December and November.
Hungarian CPI falls below 4% tolerance band of MNB after 34 months
Inflation in Hungary dropped from 5.5% to 3.8% in January.
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Czech unemployment inched up to 4% in January
Unemployment in Czechia climbed to 4% in January, which is an increase of 0.3 percentage points month on month and 0.1 points year on year.
Turkey’s new central bank chief rules out more rate hikes in near term
At first press conference as governor, Fatih Karahan also states regulator is committed to a floating exchange rate. Yet it is clear that the authority intervenes.
Russia's retail turnover up 10.2% in December, 6.4% in 2023
Russia's retail trade turnover continued its strong growth in December, increasing by 10.2% y/y, and expanding by 6.4% y/y over the whole of 2023 to reach a total of RUB47.4 trillion ($520.1bn) in comparable prices.
Czech retail sales declined by 4.1% in 2023
In December, retail sales increased by 1.6% year-on-year and by 0.2% month-on-month.
Moldova cuts policy rate by 50bp to 4.25%
Inflation has fallen dramatically since 2022 and remained within the target band for the third consecutive month in December.
Hungary’s retail sales deliver positive surprise in December
Decline slowed to 1%, the best monthly figure for the year.
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Czech industry falls by 0.4% y/y in 2023
December figures released by the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO) were not overly optimistic either, with the output in industry decreasing by 0.7% year on year.