Economy - Diplomacy & Trade https://dteurope.com Monthly in print | Daily on the web Sun, 24 May 2026 22:21:34 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://dteurope.com/wp-content/uploads/cropped-dt_favicon-32x32.png Economy - Diplomacy & Trade https://dteurope.com 32 32 Hungarian Stock Market Plummeted This Week https://dteurope.com/economy/hungarian-stock-market-plummeted-this-week/ Sun, 24 May 2026 19:37:00 +0000 https://dteurope.com/?p=79882 The Budapest Stock Exchange’s leading index, the BUX, closed the week down, losing nearly 1.5% of its value. Most leading stocks weakened, with Richter and Mol performing particularly poorly. Meanwhile, flash reports from several large companies and a revision of OTP’s target price also moved the market, the business site penzcentrum.hu quotes MTI’s summary. Amid […]

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]]> WGI Indicators Also Important for Sovereign Ratings https://dteurope.com/economy/wgi-indicators-also-important-for-sovereign-ratings/ Sun, 24 May 2026 09:08:00 +0000 https://dteurope.com/?p=79887 When determining the sovereign ratings, the credit rating agencies also consider the World Bank’s World Governance Indicators (WGI), albeit with different weights. The WGI examines six institutional areas: freedom of speech and accountability, political stability, government effectiveness, regulatory quality, rule of law, and the development of corruption control. GKI Economic Research Institute examined how these […]

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]]> Hungary-EU Relations to Improve under the New Gov't https://dteurope.com/economy/hungary-eu-relations-to-improve-under-the-new-govt/ Sat, 23 May 2026 09:32:00 +0000 https://dteurope.com/?p=79870 In its assessment of the current situation in Hungary, presented in London on Friday, Moody’s Ratings published an overall assessment stating that the affirmed "Baa2" rating is supported by the diversified Hungarian economy, which is delivering moderate growth, as well as Moody's expectation that relations between Hungary and the EU will improve under the new […]

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]]> General Government Deficit at 91% of Full-Year Target in April https://dteurope.com/economy/general-government-deficit-at-91-of-full-year-target-in-april/ Fri, 22 May 2026 11:55:00 +0000 https://dteurope.com/?p=79855 Hungary's cash flow-based general government deficit reached HUF 3,849.8 billion at the end of April, 91.3% of the full-year target, a detailed report released by the Finance Ministry, and reviewed by MTI, on Friday shows. The central budget deficit reached HUF 3,743.4 billion and the social security funds were HUF 150.3 billion in the red, […]

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]]> Inflation in Hungary May Pick Up Again Next Year https://dteurope.com/economy/inflation-in-hungary-may-pick-up-again-next-year/ Fri, 22 May 2026 06:41:00 +0000 https://dteurope.com/?p=79833 The Hungarian economy is expected to grow by 1.4% this year and 2.2% next year, while average annual inflation could accelerate to 4.5% in 2027 from 3.2% this year, due to rising energy prices and the potential partial phasing out of certain price-capping measures, Erste Bank shared its latest forecast with MTI. The bank’s analysts […]

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]]> Investment Performance 0.5% Lower than a Year Earlier https://dteurope.com/economy/investment-performance-0-5-lower-than-a-year-earlier/ Fri, 22 May 2026 06:36:00 +0000 https://dteurope.com/?p=79857 The volume of investments was 0.5% lower, according to raw data, in the 1st quarter of 2026 than in the same period of the previous year, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) reports. Compared with the previous quarter, the total value of investments – according to seasonally adjusted data – lessened by 0.4% at comparative prices. […]

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]]> How Well Can Companies Manage Higher Wage Costs? https://dteurope.com/economy/how-well-can-companies-manage-higher-wage-costs/ Fri, 22 May 2026 06:00:00 +0000 https://dteurope.com/?p=79814 The domestic wage level and minimum wage in Hungary put the country at the bottom of the European Union rankings – yet another challenge facing the new government that is getting settled. A new study looks at how much of an increase would remain economically sustainable. Between 2010 and 2019, domestic wages were characterized by […]

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]]> European Commission Expects Pickup in Hungary GDP growth https://dteurope.com/economy/european-commission-expects-pickup-in-hungary-gdp-growth/ Thu, 21 May 2026 11:09:00 +0000 https://dteurope.com/?p=79829 The European Commission (EC) expects Hungary's GDP growth to accelerate to 1.8% in 2026 and 2.1% in 2027 on domestic demand and a recovery in exports, a spring forecast released on Thursday shows. GDP growth is set to pick up from 0.5% in 2025, "underpinned by domestic demand and exports, as well as improved confidence", […]

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]]> Leasing Market Continued to Expand in Hungary in Q1 https://dteurope.com/economy/leasing-market-continued-to-expand-in-hungary-in-q1/ Tue, 19 May 2026 17:14:00 +0000 https://dteurope.com/?p=79786 The leasing market continued to expand in Hungary in the first quarter of 2026, with both the volume of new financing and the number of contracts on the rise, the Hungarian Leasing Association told MTI on Tuesday. The total value of new financing approached HUF 222 billion, representing a 6% year-over-year increase. The number of […]

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]]> MNB Governor: Eurozone Accession Not 'End in Itself' https://dteurope.com/economy/mnb-governor-eurozone-accession-not-end-in-itself/ Mon, 18 May 2026 16:33:00 +0000 https://dteurope.com/?p=79780 Meeting the criteria necessary for joining the eurozone is in Hungary's interest, but adopting the common currency should not be seen as "an end in itself," Mihály Varga, the governor of the National Bank of Hungary (MNB), said at a conference in Budapest. Opening the 11th Lámfalussy Conference, Mihály Varga said the time for Hungary […]

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]]> General Government Gross Debt at 77,9% of GDP https://dteurope.com/economy/general-government-gross-debt-at-779-of-gdp/ Mon, 18 May 2026 09:08:00 +0000 https://dteurope.com/?p=79751 General government consolidated gross debt at nominal value was 77,9% of GDP, amounting to HUF 69,012 billion, at the end of 2026 Q1. According to preliminary financial accounts data, general government net lending was equal to -5.6% (HUF -4,964 billion) of Hungary’s GDP in the four quarters to 2026 Q1. General government net lending amounted […]

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]]> Consumer Confidence Index at a 5,5-Year High in May https://dteurope.com/economy/consumer-confidence-index-at-a-55-year-high-in-may/ Sun, 17 May 2026 10:03:00 +0000 https://dteurope.com/?p=79735 According to a survey conducted by the GKI Economic Research Co. – with the support of the EU –, public expectations improved significantly, to levels not seen in 5.5 years. The GKI Consumer Confidence Index increased by 16.1 points. Such a positive monthly shift has never been seen in the more than 30-year history of […]

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]]> Budapest Stock Exchange: Major Slip This Week https://dteurope.com/economy/budapest-stock-exchange-major-slip-this-week/ Sun, 17 May 2026 07:22:00 +0000 https://dteurope.com/?p=79744 The stock index of the Budapest Stock Exchange (BSE), the BUX, fell 2.12% this week compared to last Friday’s close, MTI reports. Total trading volume for the week fell by HUF several billion to HUF 114.1 billion, down from HUF 120.6 billion the previous week. The BUX started the week weakly, closing in the red […]

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]]> Industrial Production Up by 6.7% Year-on-Year https://dteurope.com/economy/industrial-production-up-by-6-7-year-on-year/ Thu, 14 May 2026 07:05:00 +0000 https://dteurope.com/?p=79667 The volume of industrial production in Hungary grew by 6.7%, based on working-day adjusted data it rose year-on-year by 3.7% in March 2026, data released by the Central Statistical Office (KSH) shows. A production increase occurred in the great majority of the manufacturing subsections. According to seasonally and working-day adjusted data industrial output was 3.1% […]

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]]> CIB Analyst Puts Hungary's 2026 GDP Growth at 1.8% https://dteurope.com/economy/cib-analyst-puts-hungarys-2026-gdp-growth-at-1-8/ Wed, 13 May 2026 14:40:00 +0000 https://dteurope.com/?p=79658 Hungary's GDP growth could reach 1.8% in 2026 and accelerate to 2.6% in 2027, CIB Bank chief analyst Mariann Trippon said at a press conference. Mariann Trippon stated that consumption could drive growth, while investments stabilized. She added that the arrival of European Union funding would support investments from the autumn, at the earliest, and […]

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