Central Europe / Data
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Czech unemployment stays at 4.2% in June
Czech unemployment level stayed at 4.2% in June, where it eased to in May by one percentage point on the 4.1% registered in April.
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Hungary’s inflation edges up in June
The latest data are expected to bolster the National Bank's (MNB) cautious approach to monetary policy, signalling little prospect of rate cuts in the near term.
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Czech industrial output slightly accelerates to 2.2% y/y in May
Czech industrial output increased by 2.2% year on year and fell by 1.6% month on month in May.
Poland's public finance deficit seen rising to 6.8% of GDP by 2026, says Pekao
Poland’s public finance sector deficit is projected to reach 6.8% of GDP in 2026 and 5.7% in 2027, according to analysts at Bank Pekao, who cite sustained military spending, weaker tax revenues and looser European fiscal rules as the reason.
Poland’s NBP cuts by 25bp, more cuts likely
The National Bank of Poland’s decision to cut its main policy rate by 25 basis points on July 3, bringing it to 5.00%, caught most analysts off guard. Yet for those watching closely, the signals were already there.
Hungary meets nearly entire annual financing plan by June
Hungarian Debt Management Agency (AKK) said the 2025 financing plan was fulfilled on a prorated basis in H1, with 96% of the full-year net issuance target completed by end-June.
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Czech PMI rises above 50 for the first time in over three years
Czechia’s manufacturing PMI index, compiled monthly by the S&P Global market intelligence company, posted 50.2 in June, returning above the 50-point mark separating growth and decline for the first time in over three years.
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Polish manufacturing suffers sharp contraction to 44.8 in June as new orders slump
The Polish manufacturing sector faced its steepest contraction in over two-and-a-half years in June, with a sharp decline in both output and new orders, according to S&P Global's latest Purchasing Managers’ Index survey published in June.
Hungarian economy faces weak growth, slow path to price stability, central bank report shows
Hungary's economy continues to struggle with weak momentum and only a gradual improvement in inflation, the National Bank of Hungary said in its latest Inflation Report.
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Czech statisticians improve GDP estimate to 2.4% Q1
Czech gross domestic product increased by 2.4% year on year and by 0.7% quarter on quarter in the first quarter of this year, following a revision by the Czech Statistical Office on the previously published 2.2% y/y and 0.8% q/q.
ING: Unemployment rate drops further than expected in Hungary
Recent labour market data show that demographic decline and voluntary exits are key factors to watch out for. Meanwhile, gloomy macroeconomic conditions are leading to redundancies. A bleak outlook is prompting companies to consider downsizing.
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Czech National Bank keeps rates at 3.5%
The Czech National Bank has kept the main interest rate at 3.5% following a unanimous decision at the monetary board meeting on June 25. The decision was widely expected.
Polish public support for Ukraine’s EU and NATO membership drops sharply – poll
Public backing in Poland for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union and Nato has fallen significantly since the start of the war, according to a new survey by the research agency IBRiS.
Hungary’s MNB leaves rates on hold, won’t rush to restart easing cycle
The Hungarian central bank (MNB) left its base rate on hold on June 24 at 6.50% for the ninth month in a row.
Polish retail sales ease growth in May but still point to sustained consumption as pillar of growth
Polish retail sales grew 4.4% year on year in constant prices in May, a marked slowdown from the 7.6% y/y increase recorded in April.
Polish PPI eases decline rate slightly in May
Poland's producer price index fell 1.5% year on year in May, following a revised decline of 1.6% y/y in April.
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Slovak unemployment stays at 3.71% in May
Unemployment in Slovakia stayed at 3.71% in May, the same as in the previous month. The April level was the lowest on record since 1993. Year on year, it dropped by 0.07 percentage points.
Who hold the most gold reserves?
In 2025, gold prices reached unprecedented levels, with spot gold trading at above $3,932 per troy ounce as of May 7th, an increase of over 83% within just a year.
Polish core inflation eases growth to 3.3% y/y in May
Poland’s core inflation, an indicator that measures price growth without including prices of food and energy, eased growth to 3.3% year on year in May after a gain of 3.4% y/y the preceding month.
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.