Turkey’s reserves head to minus territory, lira flat and bond yields break records

Economy experiencing unprecedented portfolio outflows described by one analyst as almost apocalyptic.

Turkey ranked 17th largest military spender in 2024 by Sipri

9% annual rise in global spending steepest recorded since at least end of Cold War.

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.

Hungary’s economy contracts in Q1, casting doubt on government’s growth targets

Hungary’s economy stagnated in Q1 2025 and fell 0.4% year on year (chart) according to seasonally adjusted data, dealing a blow to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s earlier pledges of a growth “explosion” at the start of the year.

Sharp drop in Polish inflation paves way for rate cut at next central bank meeting

A sharper-than-expected fall in Polish inflation has increased the likelihood that the National Bank of Poland will resume interest rate cuts at next week’s policy meeting.

Falling Polish interest rates will squeeze banks' income

Two dozen Polish banks will need to seek new sources of income and diversify their portfolios in 2025 as falling interest rate squeeze their net interest income, the Polish Bank Association warned, PAP reported on April 29.

Global military spending surges to $2.7 trillion – Statista

Global military spending hit $2.7 trillion last year, according to the latest data by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Statista reports.

The countries losing population fastest – Statista

In 2023, Ukraine was the country losing population the fastest as the Russian invasion is driving its citizens from their homeland in scores.

The state of global fertility – Statista

South Korea, together with Hong Kong, Macau and Puerto Rico, is one of only a few places in the world with a fertility rate below 1, data by the World Bank shows, Statista reports.

Uzbekistan’s 1Q gold exports jump to $3.6bn as world prices hit record levels

Billion-dollar surge recorded. Shipments of precious metal account for 44% of country's overall export volume.

Russia’s unemployment stays at record 2.4% low in 2M25

Russia’s unemployment rate remained at a historic post-Soviet low of 2.4% in the first two months of 2025, according to Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, who credited job creation and rising incomes for the improvement in labour market conditions.

Istanbul-listed Koc makes Top 20 for first time in Global 500 Family Business ranking

Claims 19th position with $68bn in revenues.

Russia’s CBR keeps key interest rate at 21%

The board of the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) resolved to keep the key interest rate unchanged at 21% at the policy meeting of April 25, according to the press-release of the regulator.

World Bank cuts Romania's growth forecast to lowest in the region for 2025 and 2026

The World Bank has sharply revised downward its economic growth projections for Romania, now expecting GDP to grow by just 1.3% in 2025 and 1.9% in 2026.

Slovak unemployment drops to 3.72% in March

Slovak unemployment slightly dropped to 3.72% in March, down by 0.07 percentage point from February and by 0.16 pp from March 2024, while the number of unemployed persons was the lowest on record since 1993.

IMF: Global growth is expected to decline and downside risks to intensify as major policy shifts unfold – WEO

After enduring a prolonged and unprecedented series of shocks, the global economy appeared to have stabilized, with steady yet underwhelming growth rates, the International Monetary Fund said in its latest World Economic Outlook.

Romania's public deficit reaches new record in 2024

Romania posted the widest general government budget deficit among EU member states at 9.3% of GDP, nearly three times the EU average.

Polish industrial production disappoints with expansion of just 2.5% y/y in March

Slovak GDP improves to 2.1% in 2024 after revision

Slovakia’s gross domestic product performance improved to 2.1% growth in 2024, following the spring revision of GDP growth in the years 2021-2024 released by the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic.

Tourism record set as almost one million hot air balloon passengers take to sky in Turkey during 2024

Flights held in seven regions.