Real appreciation of Romanian leu inflates nominal GDP and fuels external deficits

182% increase in nominal GDP since 2009 significantly overstates the country’s real economic progress, according to bne IntelliNews calculations.

Polish CPI growth nears central bank’s target after growing 4% y/y in May

Poland’s consumer price index rose 4% year on year in May, easing from 4.3% y/y the preceding month, data published by the national statistics office GUS on June 13 showed.

Hungary’s battery sector remains in deep recession

Global overcapacity, cooling demand and domestic operational setbacks are weighing on EV battery production.

Slovak inflation spikes to 4.1% y/y in May, highest since 2023

Consumer price indices in Slovakia increased by 4.1% year on year in May, the highest value since December, and returned to an accelerating trajectory after easing in April to 3.7% y/y.

World Bank cuts Cambodia’s GDP growth forecast to 4% for 2025

The World Bank joins other international financial institutions that have revised their outlook for Cambodia. Just last December, it had forecast 5.5% growth for both 2025 and 2026

Hungary’s headline inflation edges up despite cap on profit margins

Hungary’s annual inflation rate accelerated to 4.4% (chart) in May from 4.2% in April, slightly exceeding market expectations, despite the cap on profit margins on food and household items. Consumer prices rose by 0.2% month on month.

Slovak industry returns to decline of 0.4% y/y in April

Romania’s trade deficit hits 10% of GDP

Deficit at €35.7bn in the 12 months to April after a 21.3% year-on-year increase.

Serbia’s central bank sees inflation easing to 3% by year-end

Headline inflation is currently at 3.8%, while core inflation has declined from 5% to 4.6%.

Czech statisticians refine May inflation to 2.4% y/y

This is slower than the 2.8% y/y flash estimate released last week, but still a 0.6 percentage point acceleration on the 1.8% y/y April easing.

Fitch affirms Hungary’s 'BBB' rating, slashes 2025 growth forecast to 0.7%

Fitch Ratings has reaffirmed Hungary’s sovereign debt rating at 'BBB' with a stable outlook, the lowest tier of investment grade, but significantly cut its 2025 GDP growth projection to just 0.7%, down from the 2.5% it anticipated in December.

Czech unemployment eases to 4.2% in May

Czech unemployment level eased slightly by 0.1 percentage point in comparison to April to 4.2% in May (chart), as employers seek workforce for seasonal jobs in tourism and restaurants.

Czech industry maintains 2% y/y growth in April

Czech industrial production increased in real terms by 2% year on year and by 0.9% month on month in April (chart), maintaining a modest three-month growth trajectory to which it returned in February. In March industry grew by 1.4% y/y.

Germans overtake Americas and most hated by Russians – Levada

Germans have overtaken Americas to become the most hated by Russians, according to a poll by independent pollster, the Levada Centre.

Romania’s GDP continues five-quarter quasi-stagnation in 1Q25

Robust growth in construction and slight advances in IT&C and real estate were offset by shrinking industrial activity.

Hungarian retail sales rebound in April, driven by non-food categories

Hungary’s retail sales data positively surprised in April with a calendar-adjusted increase of 5% y/y, the strongest growth in over a year and above consensus. Unadjusted data showed a 6.8% (chart) increase.

Russia’s Central Bank cuts rate to 20% as inflation and economy cool

The board of the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) resolved to cut the key interest policy rate from 21% by 100 basis points to 20% at the policy meeting of June 6, the CBR said in a press release.

Hungarian industry shows signs of life in April, but recovery still fragile

Poland’s fertility rate sinks to just below 1.1 in 2024, a new historic low

Poland’s fertility rate fell to a historic low of 1.099 in 2024, Poland’s statistical office GUS said in a report, which deepened concerns about the country’s shrinking and ageing population.

Kazakhstan’s service sector activity expands at fastest rate in nearly three years in May, PMI data shows

At the same time, business sentiment hits six-month low, job shedding continues.