Czech industrial output grows 1.3% in February as slowdown continues for third month

Czech industrial output rises 1.3% in February, slowing for the third straight month but staying in positive territory on the back of car production. Construction returns to 4.1% growth with housing starts up 46%.

Serbia holds key rate at 5.75% following global energy shock

Despite the global uncertainty, the NBS still expects inflation to remain within its target band of 3% plus or minus 1.5 percentage points by the end of the year.

Russia budget deficit widens as oil revenues slump despite expected windfall

Russia’s federal budget deficit widened sharply in the first quarter as oil and gas revenues fell steeply, with economists warning that a price surge linked to the Iran conflict has yet to feed through into state finances.

North Macedonia’s FX reserves up 9.6% y/y in March

US public opinion turns sharply against Israel and Netanyahu, Pew says

Americans’ views of Israel and its prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, have grown markedly more negative over the past four years, with disapproval now spanning age groups and widening across political divides.

Bulgaria’s industrial producer prices post fastest rise in SEE in February

Bulgaria records the EU's highest annual industrial producer price growth at 7.3% in February, highlighting cost pressures in the bloc's newest eurozone member just months after adopting the euro on January 1.

Bullion sales in Uzbekistan surge eightfold

Consumers last year rushed for gold as investment as world prices shot upwards.

Poland’s central bank increases gold reserves to 583 tonnes after March market correction

The National Bank of Poland expanded its gold reserves to just over 583 tonnes in March, taking advantage of a sharp correction in global gold prices.

Romania keeps policy rate, signals higher inflation in Q2 on Middle East effects

Central bank’s forward guidance showed a clear shift in tone: inflation risks are now tilted to the upside in the short term, effectively pushing expectations for monetary easing further into the future.

Iranian crude trades at a premium to Brent after US waives sanctions

Iranian Light crude is trading at a $1 premium to the benchmark Brent price since the US waived a sanctions-ban on buying Iran crude already at sea to ease prices on the international market.

Trump’s global disapproval reaches all-time high - Gallup

A record 48% of adults worldwide now disapprove of the United States’ leadership, marking the highest level since tracking began, according to Gallup.

Romania’s manufacturing remains in contraction despite March improvement

Romania’s manufacturing sector remained in contractionary territory in March, despite a slight improvement in business conditions, according to data from the BCR Romania Manufacturing PMI cited by Erste Group.

Headline inflation in Uzbekistan edges down to 7.1% in March

Year-on-year food price growth slowed to 5.6% from the 7.6% seen 12 months previously.

Kazakhstan service sector saw green shoots of recovery in March, PMI shows

Inflationary pressures recede further, marginal growth in new business recorded.

Arched brows as Turkey releases official inflation at 2% m/m despite war effects

Country’s economic managers working with expected average price of $85/barrel for Brent oil in 2026.

Russia’s services sector slips back into contraction posting 49.5 as demand softens

Russia’s services sector returned to contraction in March, as weaker demand weighed on activity despite a modest improvement in business confidence, according to data published by S&P Global on April 3.

Gold overtakes US Treasuries in central bank reserves

Gold has overtaken US Treasuries as the largest component of global central bank reserves for the first time since the mid-1990s, marking a significant shift in the structure of the international monetary system, Bloomberg reports.

Tokyo stocks slide following Trump remarks

Tokyo equities fell sharply on April 2, with the benchmark Nikkei 225 ending more than 2% lower as a sell-off gathered pace following remarks by US President Donald Trump that reignited concerns on the Iran war.

Kazakhstan’s manufacturing output fell at fastest pace in four years in March, PMI shows

Companies pull back on operations in response to muted demand.

Polish manufacturers signal optimism despite Middle East scare, new PMI reading suggests

Poland’s Purchasing Managers’ Index rose to 48.7 points in March from 47.1 in February, signalling a slower deterioration in manufacturing conditions but remaining below the 50-point threshold that separates growth from contraction.