Eastern Europe / Data
Zelenskiy falls to sixth in Ukraine's trust rankings as rivals crowd the top - poll
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has slipped to sixth place in a new public trust ranking of the country's political and military leaders, behind four military figures and his own former defence minister, according to a new poll
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Russia’s services sector remains in contraction as fuel shortages drive costs higher
Russia’s services sector remained under pressure in July as weak consumer demand and falling purchasing power continued to weigh on business activity, while fuel shortages pushed up transport costs and renewed inflationary pressures.
Russia’s manufacturing PMI reaches 18-month high as domestic demand offsets export weakness
Russia's manufacturing sector expanded at its fastest pace in 18 months in July as stronger domestic demand lifted output and new orders, although weakening exports, fuel shortages and deteriorating business confidence pointed to a fragile recovery.
Ukraine less births than Kyrgyzstan this year as Central Europe's demographic crisis deepens
Ukraine is on track to record fewer births this year than Kyrgyzstan for the first time - a reversal from the end of the Soviet Union, when Ukraine's newborns outnumbered Kyrgyzstan's five to one.
Ukraine's central bank raises key rate to 15.5% as inflation risks build
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) raised its key policy rate to 15.5% from 15% on July 30, ending a hold that had lasted since March and reversing the rate-cutting cycle it opened at the start of the year, the central bank said.
Analysts split on how far Russia's key rate still has to fall
Russia's central bank cut its key rate for the tenth consecutive time on July 24, by 25 basis points to 14%, while raising its inflation forecast for 2026 to 6-7%. That's a contradiction and no one is clear where rates will go from here.
China and Russia cement their grip on global manufacturing
China now accounts for roughly 28% of global manufacturing value added, more than any other country or bloc and over triple its share in 2004, according to World Bank data.
Global population growth peaked six decades ago - OWID
The increase in the world’s population is not exponential. The global population is growing, but the growth rate has declined since its peak six decades ago.
Russia's central bank cuts rate to 14% in surprise move, lifts inflation forecast to 6%-7%
Russia's central bank cut its key rate by 25bp to 14% on July 24, defying a market consensus for no change, while raising its 2026 inflation forecast to 6%-7% and cutting its GDP growth forecast to 0%-1%.
Russia's central bank sells record 44 tonnes of gold in 1H26
The Central Bank of Russia (CBR) sold a record 44 tonnes of gold in the first half of 2026 — the largest six-month drawdown in at least 25 years.
Fedorov's popularity surges after sacking as Ukraine protests continue
Trust in Mykhailo Fedorov has surged since President Volodymyr Zelenskiy dismissed him as defence minister on July 15 as part of a surprise government reshuffle, with a new Rating Group poll putting him second only to the former commander-in-chief.
IMF clears $690mn tranche for Ukraine, but the budget still short $20bn this year.
The IMF Executive Board has completed the first review of Ukraine's Extended Fund Facility (EFF), clearing the way for a $690mn disbursement that will lift total financing under the programme to $2.2bn, Ukraine's Ministry of Finance said on July 21.
Russia overtakes Germany as Europe's biggest beer brewer
Russia has overtaken Germany to become Europe's largest beer producer, brewing 9.01bn litres in 2025 against Germany's 7.92bn litres, according to the latest annual report from BarthHaas, the Nuremberg-based hop trader and brewing-industry analyst.
Kremlin lowers Duma election turnout, vote targets
Russia's Presidential Administration has lowered its targets for turnout and United Russia's vote share in September's State Duma election, climbing down from the 50% turnout and 55% party-support benchmarks set in February.
Ukraine's death-to-birth ratio worsens to 3.55 in 1H26
Ukraine recorded 73,292 births against 259,853 deaths in the first half of 2026, pushing the death-to-birth ratio to 3.55, up from 2.87 a year earlier, as births fell 15.6% y/y and deaths rose 4.4%, according to registry data circulating this week.
Russia’s reserves edge up to $722.4bn after June decline
Russia’s international reserves edged up to $722.4bn in the week ending 10 July, according to the Central Bank of Russia, extending a recovery after a sharp fall in late June.
Russia's inflation shock complicates rate cut hopes as central bank braces for slowdown
Russia's central bank has warned that the recent surge in inflation is spreading beyond a temporary fuel price shock, while economists have sharply raised their forecasts for inflation and interest rates, complicating Kremlin hopes for rate cuts,
Putin calls for rate cuts again as Kremlin reverts to DoubleThink on the economy
Russian President Vladimir Putin has publicly called for lower interest rates again, increasing the pressure on the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) as the Kremlin reverts to DoubleSpeak to describe the slowing economy and a fresh surge in inflation.
Dollar's grip on global reserves slips to lowest level this century
The US dollar's share of global foreign exchange reserves has fallen to its lowest level this century, underlining a slow-moving long-term de-dollarisation by central banks to diversify away from the world's dominant reserve currency.
Global population growth is slowing - Statista
According to UN calculations, the world's population will cross the 10-billion mark in 2061. By the end of the century, however, this number will have started to decline slightly, having reached a high around 10.3bn in 2084, Statista reports.