Central Europe / Data
Polish GDP growth eases to 1.3% y/y in Q1, flash estimate says
Polish GDP expanded 1.3% year on year in the first quarter, (chart) easing slightly versus a gain of 1.6% y/y in the preceding three months, seasonally adjusted data from the Central Statistical Office (GUS) showed in a flash estimate on May 15.
Slovenia’s economy expands by 2.1% y/y in 1Q24
Slovenia’s economy grew by an annual 2.1% in the fourth quarter of 2024 (chart), according to non-seasonally adjusted data released by the statistics office, SURS, on May 15.
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Czech inflation accelerated to 2.9% y/y in April
Consumer price indices in Czechia increased by 2.9% year on year and by 0.7% month on month as food, alcohol and tobacco prices spiked.
Slovak industrial production dropped by 6.9% y/y in March
The influential sector of transportation equipment manufacturing decreased by 14.7% y/y.
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Czech industry returns to decline in March
Czech industry decreased by 2.7% year on year and by 1.6% month on month in March, the Czech Statistical Office (CZSO) reported. The drop comes after a slight 0.7% y/y increase in February, which ended a three-month skid in industrial output.
Mood in Polish manufacturing falls to six-month low
Poland's Purchasing Managers' Index fell 2.1 points to 45.9 in April.
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Czech PMI deteriorates in April
S&P highlighted stronger contractions in production and weak client demand amid the burdens of the difficult manufacturing environment, which was also pressured by waning external demand.
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Czech GDP grew by 0.4% y/y in the Q1 2024
The estimate released by the Czech Statistical Office follows a GDP drop of 0.8% in the third quarter of 2023 and a growth of 0.4% in Q4. Following the revision released by CZSO in late March, the Czech economy declined by 0.2% in 2023 overall.
Polish CPI picks up growth to 2.4% y/y in April, flash estimate shows
Polish CPI grew 2.4% year on year in April (chart), just below the consensus line of 2.5% y/y and 0.4pp above the March reading, a flash estimate from Poland’s statistical office GUS showed on April 30.
Preliminary Q1 GDP data shows Hungarian economy posts modest rebound
GDP grew 1.1% year on year in Q1 and by 1.7% when adjusted for calendar effects.
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Slovak unemployment inched further down to 3.88% in March
There were 167,493 job applicants in March, which is at its lowest level since the end of 2019.
Poland’s industrial production disappoints in March as output declines 6% y/y
Poland’s industrial production fell 6% year on year in constant prices in March (chart), after a gain of 3.3% y/y the preceding month, unadjusted data from the statistical office GUS showed on April 22.
Automotive sector output in Hungary edges up 1.6% y/y in February
Headline industrial output rose 1.8% in February, increasing for the first month in about a year.
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Slovak inflation eased further to 2.3% in March
Prices in the alcohol and tobacco sector increased by 19% y/y, including the 9.1% spike in tobacco prices as a result of the new consumption tax.
Polish inflation eases further to 2% y/y in March
The inflation rate landed within the National Bank of Poland’s target of 1.5%-3.5% for a second successive month
CEE falling inflation trend comes to an end
After spiking to 20-year highs thanks to the pandemic and Europe’s Russian induced energy crisis, inflation rates across the EU have tumbled in recent months. That trend has ended and CEE central banks are expected to hike rates again in 2H24.
Hungary’s CPI edges lower, but price pressures remain in service sector
Consumer prices in Hungary rose 3.6% y/y in March, but services' prices rose almost 10%.
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Slovak industry stagnates in February
Industrial production increased by 0.4% month-on-month.
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Czech inflation stagnated at 2% in March
Consumer price indices (inflation) in Czechia remained at 2% in March, the same year-on-year growth as in February, which is the lowest inflation rate since December 2018.
Where Nato has an enhanced forward presence
On Monday, 8 April, Germany sent an advance team of 20 soldiers to Lithuania, laying the groundwork for the recently discussed establishment of a permanent brigade in the Nato country, Statista reports.