Czech PMI posts 48.3 in March, highest since June 2022

The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for Czechia, compiled monthly by market intelligence company S&P Global, posted 48.3 in March.

Russian manufacturing sector PMI goes into the red for the first time since April 2022, posting 48.2

Russia’s economic slowdown continued with the S&P Global manufacturing PMI going into the red for the first time since April 2022, shortly after the war in Ukraine started, posting 48.2, less than the 50 no=change benchmark.

Czech central bankers keep interest rate at 3.75%

Czech National Bank (CNB) kept the interest rate unchanged at 3.75%, meeting wide market expectations. The rate is the lowest since January 2022.

Turkey burns through towards $30bn in reserves after detaining Imamoglu

Regime has struggled to stabilise the financial markets but, as things stand, the situation does not threaten its survival.

Romania’s macroeconomic confidence index declines amid recession fears

Decline reflects growing concerns over economic uncertainty and a potential recession.

Polish retail sales disappoint in February

Polish retail sales fell 0.5% year on year in constant prices in February, defying the consensus, which expected a 3.2% annual increase.

Kosovo’s trade gap up 13.6% y/y in February

Exports dropped by 4.3% y/y to €67.3mn in February, while imports were up 10.9% to €518.6mn.

Polish industrial production fall 2% y/y in February

Poland’s industrial production contracted 2% year on year at constant prices in February (chart), after a revised fall of 0.9% y/y the preceding month, unadjusted data from the statistical office GUS showed.

Polish PPI deflation deepens slightly in February

Poland's producer price index fell 1.3% year on year in February (chart), following a revised fall of 1% y/y in January, the country’s statistics office GUS said.

Moldova keeps base rate at 6.5% despite disappointing economic growth

Previously the BNM hiked the monetary policy rate twice since the beginning of the year to address rising inflation prompted by regulated energy prices

Slovak unemployment drops to 3.79% in February

Global cereal production grows faster than populations, says OWID

The world's population has more than doubled over the last 60 years, but global food production has managed to keep up, Our World in Data (OWID) reports.

Uzbekistan welcomes 678,700 foreign visitors in January, up 30% y/y

Country ambitious to host 12mn this year compared to 8.2mn last year.

Bulgaria’s consumer inflation speeds up to 4% in February

Consumer prices declined during 2024 but have recently started to rise with the strongest increase in restaurant and hotel prices.

Moldova’s GDP close to a standstill in 2024 due to weak agriculture

Value added generated by agriculture, accounting for 7.1% of GDP, contracted by 19% in 2024.

Polish core inflation rate eases to 3.6% y/y in February

Poland’s core inflation, an indicator that measures price growth without including prices of food and energy, eased growth to 3.6% y/y in February after a gain of 3.7% y/y the preceding month.

Number of foreign-invested companies in Uzbekistan grows by 340 in February to 15,503

China continues to extend lead in ranking of number of companies foreign investors have set up and backed in Central Asia's second largest economy. Russia second, Turkey third.

Kosovo’s economy expands by annual 4.08% in 4Q24

Strong growth reported in Kosovo's manufacturing sector, which expanded by 4.35%.

Polish inflation rate eases to 4.9%, raising hopes for faster decline to central bank target

Poland’s consumer price index grew 4.9% year on year in February, the same expansion rate as the heavily revised – due to the annual changes in the inflation basket – gain of 4.9% y/y the preceding month.

European defence industry is the global growth laggard, says Statista

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for increased European defence spending under the ReArm Europe plan, but Europe is trailing the other major arms producers badly.