The deficit of the general government sector in the third quarter of 2024 was HUF 621 billion, or 3.0% of GDP. The balance is HUF 133 billion, or 0.9 percentage point more favourable than a year earlier, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) reported this Friday. In the 3rd quarter of 2024 compared to the same […]

According to the empirical survey conducted by GKI Economic Research Co. with the support of the EU, the outlook for the business sector deteriorated further in December, but consumers became slightly more optimistic. GKI’s business climate index has been falling in small steps but essentially flat in the second half of this year, slipping to […]

Hungary’s fiercely anti-immigration government is halving the number of guest worker permits to be issued in 2025. With an aging population and a reliance on labor-heavy industries, experts worry that the country may face a critical labor shortage. "Hungary belongs to Hungarians; it will neither become a guest worker country nor a migrant country," the […]

The surplus of the external trade in goods was EUR 1.0 billion, compared to the previous month, the adjusted volume of export lessened by 1.3%, that of import by 1.4%, the Hungarian Central Statistical Office (KSH) reports. The volume of export lessened by 0.3% and that of import surpassed the same period of the previous […]

Hungary is setting the stage for a leadership change at the helm of its central bank, as Finance Minister Mihály Varga prepares to step into the role of governor for the National Bank of Hungary. At his parliamentary confirmation hearing, Varga struck a reassuring tone, emphasizing his commitment to the central bank’s independence and the […]

Hungary's currency, the forint, has faced a turbulent year, losing over 7% against the euro so far in 2024. Global financial uncertainty has turned investor attention to the country's economic vulnerabilities, forcing Hungary’s central bank to halt its monetary easing and maintain the EU’s highest borrowing cost, tied with Romania at 6.5%. The latest blow […]

The volume of Hungarian export decreased by 3.5% and that of import by 0.3% compared to the same period of the previous year. The surplus was EUR 949 million, the balance deteriorated by EUR 470 million year-on-year. Compared to August, the adjusted volume of export increased by 0.9% and that of import by 0.8%, the […]

In the third quarter of 2024, Hungarian service exports calculated in EUR were 4.2% and their imports 1.9% higher than in the same period of the previous year. The surplus was EUR 3.5 billion, EUR 280 million more than in the third quarter of 2023, higher even than the record in the corresponding period of […]

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is poised to announce his choice for the next governor of the Hungarian National Bank (MNB) within days, as the tenure of the current chief, György Matolcsy, draws to a close. The selection process, which will also coincide with a cabinet reshuffle, is being closely watched amid economic turbulence and a […]

At its meeting on 19 November 2024, the Monetary Council of the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) reviewed the latest economic and financial developments and decided on leaving unchanged the central bank interest rate at 6.50% with effect from November 20, 2024. According to a statement by the Monetary Council, the primary objective of the […]

Hungary's struggling economy may find relief in 2025 as automotive giants BYD and BMW prepare to launch production at their new facilities, marking a significant expansion of the country's automotive sector. Chinese Ambassador Gong Tao announced during a recent visit to Szeged that BYD's first European plant will begin manufacturing vehicles in November 2025. Meanwhile, […]

There is a high degree of uncertainty in the target markets of the Hungarian economy, and the expected economic policy of the next US President also poses a number of risks for Germany and thus Hungary. Due to the weak economic situation, the German economy is not able to stimulate the Hungarian economy, said András […]

Compared to the previous month, the level of export of goods increased by 15%, and that import grew by 7.8% in Hungary's external trade balance in September 2024, the country's Central Statistical Office (KSH) reports. However, the value of export was 5.0% lower, that of import decreased by 4.0% in EUR terms in September 2024 […]

For the second time in two years, Hungary’s economy has slid into recession, as its gross domestic product (GDP) turned negative for two consecutive quarters. New data shows an unexpectedly sharp economic downturn, with Hungary returning to recessionary territory last seen during the 2022 energy crisis. Hungarian GDP fell by 0.7% in the third quarter […]

Domestic small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are expecting rising profits, but are holding back, as their willingness to invest has declined, according to the third quarterly data of the K&H SME Confidence Index, which shows the expectations of domestic micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for the next 12 months. According to a statement sent […]