Annual inflation in Russia remains flat at 7.58% at the end of February

Russia's inflation rate accelerated slightly in the week from February 20 to 26, inching up to 7.58% from 7.57% the previous week, according to the Ministry of Economic Development's latest data.

Russia posts accelerated 4.6% GDP growth in January

Russia's economic growth accelerated in January 2024, expanding by 4.6% y/y, up from a 4.4% increase in December, according to the Russian Ministry of Economic Development.

Russia's industrial production up 4.6% in January

Russia's industrial production accelerated in January to 4.6% y/y, the highest in three months and up from 2.7% in December, Rosstat reported on February 29.

Three of seven Hungarian regions among 20 poorest in EU

The four poorest Hungarian regions (Southern Great Plain, Northern Great Plain, Northern Hungary and Southern Transdanubia) had per capita GDP of between 50-55% of the EU average.

Central Bank of Iran defends exchange rate policy as rial spirals

The Central Bank has responded to criticisms regarding its decision last month to permit banks to sell certificates of deposits with a 30% interest rate.

Commercial real estate investment dropped by 55% in Central Europe in 2023, says Cushman & Wakefield

The highest proportion of the capital went into the office sector, although its share dropped from 41% in 2022 to 32% in 2023 because of the increasing trend towards remote work.

Kazakh central bank cuts key policy rate after inflation declines to 9.5% in January

Reduction of 50 bp takes benchmark to 14.75%.

Turkey hits brake on monetary tightening, policy rate left unchanged at 45%

Benchmark will be further raised should the inflation outlook flash red, says regulator.

Is the worst of Europe's slowdown over as PMI recover?

Putin’s repressions of 116,000 people surpasses Khrushchev, Brezhnev - Proekt

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime has persecuted at least 116,000 in just the last six years, Russian outlet Proekt estimates in a study released on February 22 dedicated to the memory of opposition figure Alexei Navalny.

Unemployment level in Slovakia inched up to 3.97% in January

It is an increase of 0.09 percentage points compared to December and a drop of 0.47pp on January 2023.

Polish industrial production expands 1.6% y/y in January

Low economic activity among Poland’s main trading partners weigh on Polish industrial companies.

Moldova’s industrial activity shrank by 3.6% y/y in 2023

Moldova's industrial facilities had to reduce operations dramatically in the winter of 2022-23, as natural gas resources were limited and costly.

Europeans, Ukrainians increasingly at odds over prospect of victory over Russia – polls

Only one in ten of respondents in the EU believe that Ukraine can win the war against Russia, according to a new survey commissioned by the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)

Polish PPI deflation deepens again in January

Poland's producer price index (PPI) declined 9% year on year in January (chart), following a revised fall of 6.9% y/y in December.

ECA50 releases its debut regional frontier equity index of the 50 largest publicly traded companies

ECA50 Plc developed its debut regional equity index of the 50 largest public companies in the frontier Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region.

CEE losing competitiveness because of soaring wages and weak productivity growth

Unit labour costs have surged by 25% since 2020 – something not seen since the early 2000s, says Capital Economics

Moldova's trade balance narrowed by 8.5% y/y to 27% of GDP in 2023

Both imports and exports contracted in 2023.

Record coal exports drive Mongolia’s economy to 7% expansion

Mineral-rich country posts highest GDP growth rate in five years, thanks mainly to coal sales that topped 66mn tonnes.

Czech inflation collapses to its lowest y/y rise in almost three years in January

Consumer price indices (inflation) in Czechia increased by 2.3% year on year and by 1.5% month on month.