Data
Uzbekistan’s foreign trade climbs 20% to $51bn in Jan-Aug
Analyst notes strong Chinese export flows to Central Asian country but says great percentage of shipments were actually bound for Russia.
Holidays in the sun hit Polish retail sales figures in August
Polish retail sales grew just 3.1% y/y in August, slowing from a 4.8% y/y rise in July.
Nearly half of Russians think aliens may be hiding among humans on earth - poll
Almost one in two Russians believe extraterrestrials could be on Earth and camouflaged, hiding in the general population, according to a nationwide survey published by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VTsIOM).
Romania’s macroeconomic confidence index rises after rating outlook affirmed
Boost in confidence follows affirmations of Romania's sovereign rating by Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service, after the government advanced its first package of fiscal measures in July.
Sri Lanka’s government debt projected to peak at 101% of GDP in 2025
Sri Lankan banks hold substantial amounts of government debt, with total exposure exceeding 20% of system assets. Interest expenditure remains high, with payments expected to reach 51% of government revenue in 2025.
New KIIS report says invasion boosted Zelenskiy approval rating
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 “has substantially increased Zelenskiy’s approval rating,” according to a new release from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.
Inflation falls in 70 Russian regions but remains above target
Consumer prices declined in 70 Russian regions in August compared with July, according to data released by the Central Bank of Russia on September 18, as annual inflation also eased in 77 of the country’s regions. (chart)
Belarus reports modest GDP growth 1.6% in 8M25
Belarus’ economy expanded by 1.6% in the period from January to August 2025, according to preliminary estimates from the National Statistical Committee, state news agency BelTA reported on 17 September.
Most Ukrainians reject Russian peace plan, back continued resistance, poll shows
An overwhelming majority of Ukrainians remain committed to resisting Russia’s invasion and reject Moscow’s latest peace proposals, even as many recognise that the war is unlikely to end soon, according to a new survey by the KIIS.
Young Bulgarians turn to stocks over real estate, survey shows
Real estate remains the most popular option overall but younger investors are leading a shift towards stock market investing, says survey commissioned by Revolut.
State of global democracy - Statista
The Economist Democracy Index rates countries on the state of their governing system each year. In the latest edition, corresponding to the year 2024, only 25 countries (6.6% of the world's population) have been rated as "full democracies"
Inflation wipes out wage gains in Romania as real incomes decline
Romanian households saw their purchasing power shrink in July as inflation outpaced wage growth.
Extreme poverty falling steadily – OWID
To track progress towards ending extreme poverty, the United Nations relies on World Bank estimates of the number of people living below a poverty threshold called the “International Poverty Line” (IPL), Our World in Data (OWID) reports.
Two thirds of Germans fear a Russian invasion fuelling far-right election gains in western heartland
Public anxiety over a potential Russian attack on Nato territory has surged in Germany following the recent drone incursion on September 10 into Polish airspace that coincided with sharp gains by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).
UKraine's NBU keeps rates at 15.5% for the fourth consecutive time
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) kept the key policy rate unchanged at 15.5% for a fourth time in a row on September 11, citing persistent inflationary pressures despite a clear downward trend in consumer price growth, UBN reports.
Poll shows far-right opposition party AUR's support above 40% in Romania
Combined score of Romania's ruling coalition parties now only slightly ahead of AUR and fellow far-right parties.
Inflation in Moldova eases to 7.3% y/y in August
Inflation falls to the lowest level since prices suddenly rose in January, prompted by a crisis in the electricity system after Russia cut its deliveries overnight.
Bulgaria’s life expectancy lowest in the EU, says Eurostat
Life expectancy at birth in Bulgaria stood at 75.9 years in 2024, well below the EU average of 81.7 years.
Turkey delivers another 250-bp rate cut largely in line with expectations
Move comes ahead of moment of truth in political showdown set to trigger a very shaky second half of September.
One in three Poles blame Ukraine for the drone incursion into Polish airspace
For the first time during the full-scale war in Ukraine, Poland has shot down multiple Russian drones in its airspace on September 10, but a third of Poles have blamed the strike on Ukraine, not Russia, according to a poll.