Central East Europe / Data
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Slovak inflation eases to 3.5% y/y in June
Consumer prices dropped m/m for the first time in 2026, mainly due to lower fuel and food prices, statistics office says.
Polish venture capital investment hits record €1bn in H1
New record was driven primarily by mega-deals by ElevenLabs and ICEYE.
Foxconn subsidiary drives growth in Hungary’s industrial exports
Hungary's recent export recovery has been driven primarily by AI-related server manufacturing rather than the country's automotive industry.
Hungary cuts retail bond rates in bid to rein in soaring borrowing costs
Move comes amid declining market yields, giving the debt manager room to reduce returns offered to households while preserving the attractiveness of retail government bonds.
EBRD says bad-loan ratio in emerging Europe falls to record low
Average NPL ratio declined to a historic low of 1.86% at the end of 2025 as lending growth outpaced the increase in impaired loans.
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Czech PMI improves to 53.9 in June, best since April 2022
June PMI data "signalled a sharper upturn in the Czech manufacturing sector", says Siân Jones, principal economist at S&P Global.
Slovenia’s retail sales up 1.8% y/y in May
Increase driven by strong growth in automotive fuel sales, while food sales continued to decline.
Polish retail sales ease growth to 3% y/y in May
Middle East conflict and slower real income growth are limiting consumption growth, ING analysts said.
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Czech regulator hikes rates by 0.25bp to 3.75% in first monetary change in 13 months
The Czech National Bank changed the main interest rate for the first time since May 2025.
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Slovak inflation slows down slightly to 3.8% in May
Inflation falls from 3.9% registered in April amid rising fuel prices in connection with the war in the Middle East.
Czech inflation confirmed at 2.1% y/y in May
High fuel prices have not pushed up food prices in Czechia, but warned the Middle East conflict is expected to affect other categories.
Fitch cuts Poland’s 2026 GDP growth forecast by 0.3pp to 3.3%
Fitch Global Ratings cut its forecast for Poland’s economic growth in 2026 to 3.3% from 3.6%, citing weaker GDP data and lower external demand, the rating agency said on June 8.
Hungary's economy gains momentum in Q1 with consumption driving growth
Consumer spending rose sharply as households benefited from sizeable pre-election fiscal transfers and improving confidence.
Poland's WSE main market trading volume dips 4.4% y/y in May despite strong underlying activity
WIG index closed the month at 137,007.44 points, gaining 35% y/y.
Weaker investment and consumption hold back Polish GDP expansion in Q1
Poland's GDP grew 3.5% y/y in the first quarter, as household consumption and investment both weakened.
Hungarian central bank remains cautious, keeps base rate on hold at 6.25%
MNB says global risks remain elevated due to energy and commodity price volatility and disruption in global supply chains.
Poland expected to top EU growth in 2026 as momentum offsets impact of Middle East turmoil
Poland’s economy is expected to remain among the European Union’s strongest performers in 2026, second only to Malta, European Commission says.
Polish bourse's blue-chip index seen approaching all-time high, if banks continue to soar
The Warsaw Stock Exchange's blue-chip WIG20 index could approach its all-time highest level set in 2007 if positive sentiment towards banks, fuelled by interest rate hike expectations, steps up, a brokerage director said.
Hungary FX swap move sends forint lower as exporters warn of competitiveness squeeze
Decision to reduce maximum allowable swappoints increases the likelihood of earlier-than-expected interest rate cuts, potentially within months.
Czech inflation confirmed at 2.5% in April
Inflation could accelerate further in the coming months as the impact from the conflict in the Middle East still has to fully hit consumer prices.