Lithuanian industrial production more than doubles y/y growth rate in April

The adjusted annual growth in April owes to production expanding 14% y/y in the most-weighted manufacturing segment, compared to a growth of 7% y/y the preceding month.

Polish retail sales rebound in April

The pick-up owes to the calendar effect, with sales spiking because of Easter but also to Polish households’ general inclination towards increased consumption, driven by the good situation on the labour market – low unemployment and growing wages.

Russia's industrial output growth jumps in April on flawed data

Russia's industrial output growth in April 2019 jumped to 4.9% year-on-year after 1.2% growth in March, according to the latest data by Rosstat statistics agency. Russia on track to finish the year with 2.3% industrial production growth

Polish industrial production growth takes off in April

The headline figure attests to the Polish industrial sector’s stubbornness to give in to negative trends in the external environment, especially the slowdown of activity in Germany, Poland's largest trading partner.

Ukraine's retail trade growth accelerates to 9.1% y/y in April

Retail trade increased 9.1% y/y in real terms in April, slightly accelerating from 8.9% y/y in March

Hungary has EU's highest rate of increase in new residence permits

Budapest eased restrictions on the employment of non-EU citizens in an effort to manage the labour crunch.

Turkey’s consumer confidence index collapses 14%

May’s reading is the lowest ever recorded since the data compilation began 15 years ago. Renewed weakening of lira appears to have hit sentiment.

Budgetary responsibility council's forecast for Slovakia's GDP growth at 3.7% in 2Q19

Slovakia's economy will increase by 3.7% of GDP in 2Q19 and by 3.8% of GDP in 2019, according to May short-term economic forecast, published by the Budgetary Responsibility Council in its forecast from May 20, drawing attention to growth risks, inclu

Russia's GDP disappoints in 1Q19 with 0.5% growth

Russia's GDP growth slowed notably to 0.5% year-on-year in 1Q19, down from the strong 2.7% y/y seen in 4Q18 and 1.9% y/y in 1Q18, according to the preliminary data by Rosstat statistics bureau.

Albania’s 4-mоnth trade gap widens 9.3% 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.

Turkish private sector’s 1-year FX loan repayment obligations fall 3% m/m to $60.4 bn in March

Assessing economic flashpoints on horizon, analyst says external debts equal to around 24% of Turkey’s GDP need to be serviced over the next 12 months, leaving the lira vulnerable to bouts of risk aversion.

Hungary's stellar Q1 GDP growth puts it first in Europe

GDP growth reached a 19-year high of 5.3%, with the industrial sector unfazed by a slowdown in eurozone economies or the strike at Audi's Gyor factory.

Czech economic growth slows on lower external demand and household consumption

The Czech economic growth slowed to 2.5% year-on-year in the first quarter of this year from 2.6% in the 4Q18, affected mostly by lower external demand and household consumption

Slovakia´s inflation less pronounced due to drop in prices of flight tickets

Slovakia´s inflation slowed to 2.3% year-on-year in April, down from 2.7% in March. Core inflation stood at 1.9% and net inflation at 1.6%, the Slovak Statistics Office reported on May 15.

Turkey’s central government budget deficit soars 135% y/y in Jan-April

Typically praised, the Treasury's housekeeping is going to pot amid country's economic turmoil.

Polish GDP growth surprises to the upside, flash estimate shows

Romania’s 5% Q1 growth sends mixed messages

Romania’s GDP rose in 1Q19 at the fastest rate in the past five quarters, but besides the positive sentiment this generated, the figure also consolidates concerns related to the sustainability of the wage-led growth.

Vehicle sector output shifts to higher gear, lifting Hungary's industrial output

The automotive sector, which has the largest weight in the industrial sector, boosted output by 12.8% y/y in March, the highest rate in two-and-a-half years.

Russia on track to remain world's biggest grain exporter

Russia is projected to harvest a solid harvest of wheat of over 77mn tonnes and 38.4mn tonnes of feed grain (corn, sorghum, barley, rye, oats, millet), making a total harvest of 115.4mn tonnes in 2019

Czech unemployment drops to a two decade low of 2.7% in April

Czech unemployment rate dropped to 2.7% in April from 3% in March, at its lowest level since June 1997, due to the continuing start of seasonal work, according to data by the Labour Office published on May 10.