Data
Russia's Watcom shopping index ends 2019 on five-year high as consumption recovers
The Watcom shopping index finished 2019 on a high note, putting in its best result in five years after under-performing for almost the whole year.
Ukraine’s retail sales up 10.5% in 2019
Ukraine’s retail sales grew by a healthy 10.5% y/y in real terms in 2019, accelerating from from 5.8% y/y in 2018, Ukraine’s State Statistics Service reported on January 21.
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Russia’s gross international reserves reach $557.5bn, surpass pre-crisis peak
Russia’s gross international reserves (GIR) topped $557.5bn on January 10, according to the Central Bank of Russia (CBR), surpassing the previous all-time high in 2008.
Slovenia ranks first in emerging Europe in social mobility
Most economies are failing to provide the conditions in which their citizens can thrive, said the World Economic Forum on releasing its new social mobility index.
Moldova’s industrial output up 2.5% y/y in 11M19
Rise was driven by electronics and automotive sectors where foreign investors have developed production facilities, while light industry keeps losing ground due to the lack of workforce.
Estonian PPI deflation deepens in December
The headline figure also sees the PPI inflation rate below zero for the fifth consecutive month after an uninterrupted growth period of nearly three years.
Moldova’s exports stagnate and shift toward CIS countries
Moldova’s exports contracted by 1% y/y to $266.6mn in November as the recovery in exports to the CIS was not strong enough to offset the drop in exports to the EU.
KMPG evaluates McDonald's impact on Hungarian GDP at €456mn
McDonald’s opened its first restaurant in Hungary in April 1988 and since then it has become a dominant player in the fast food market.
Albania’s 2019 foreign trade gap widens 5.7% y/y
Albania has historically run a substantial trade deficit caused by its narrow production and export base, and has partly funded this with remittances from Albanians living abroad.
Belarus GDP grew by 1.2% y/y in 2019
The Belarusian government forecasts the nation's GDP to increase by 0.7% y/yin the first quarter of 2020, by 1.6% y/y in the first half of the next year, 2.2% y/y in January-September, and by 2.8% y/y over the year.
Jump in Polish CPI confirmed at 3.4% y/y in December
Higher prices in food, housing, hotels and restaurants, as well as culture and recreation segments drove the result, though a pick-up in core inflation also played a role.
Romania’s external debt rises on chronic wide CA gap
Romania’s current account deficit reached €10.7bn, nearly 4.9% of GDP, in the 12-month rolling period ending November, 22.7% up y/y.
Ukraine consumer inflation ends 2019 at 4.1%
Ukraine’s consumer prices declined 0.2% month-on-month in December from 0.1% m/m growth in November, while annual inflation slowed to 4.1% y/y from 5.1% in November
The number of unemployed Czechs reached its lowest level since 1996
At the end of last year, the number of unemployed job applicants in the Czech Republic reached 215,532, which is the lowest figure since December 1996.
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Ukraine international reserves grew by 22% in 2019
Ukraine's reserves hit a 14 year high of $25.3bn in 2019
Russia's inflation at 3% in 2019
Russia's consumer price inflation posted 0.4% month-on-month in December 2019, translating into a 2019 full-year CPI of 3% year-on-year versus 4.3% y/y seen in 2019, according to the preliminary estimates of the Rosstat statistics agency.
Romania’s M&A market hits 10-year record in 2019 finds Deloitte
110 M&A deals took place in Romania in 2019, with a estimated value of between €4.0bn and €4.4bn, according to consultancy firm Deloitte.
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Belarus foreign reserves jump by 31% in 2019
The foreign exchange reserves of Belarus increased by $2.2bn in 2019, or 31.2% year-on-year, to $9.4bn in 2019, according to the National Bank of Belarus (NBB).
Belarus government forecast of 2.8% y/y GDP growth in 2020 met with scepticism by foreign, local economists
The Belarusian government forecasts the nation's GDP to increase by 0.7% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2020, by 1.6% y/y in the first half of the next year, 2.2% y/y in January-September, and by 2.8% y/y over the year.
Albania’s GDP increases 3.8% in 3Q19
Albania’s GDP increased by 3.81% year-on-year in the third quarter of 2019, with the mining sector leading the growth