Hungary's GDP rose 1.7% in the first quarter from the same period a year earlier, a first reading of data released by the Central Statistics Office (KSH) on Thursday shows. Growth was the same when adjusted for seasonal and calendar year effects. Growth was driven mainly by services, especially professional, scientific, technical and administrative activities, […]

The Monetary Council of the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) left the base rate unchanged at 6.25% after reviewing the latest economic and financial developments. The O/N deposit rate and the O/N lending rate also remained unchanged, at 5.25% and 7.25%, respectively. The central bank will continue to ensure positive real interest rates in order […]

Amid declining trading volume, the Budapest Stock Exchange (BSE) stock index, the BUX, closed at 133,872.25 points on Friday, down 3.56%, or 4,945.78 points, from the previous week’s closing value. Weekly trading volume on the stock market totaled HUF 142.41 billion, down from HUF 336.22 billion the previous week, with leading stocks posting mixed results. […]

According to the latest economic forecast from the Equilibrium Institute, a moderate recovery may follow several years of weak performance, but growth prospects remain subject to significant external and internal risks. Their analysis reviews the expected trends in GDP, inflation, exchange rates, the labor market, consumption and investment. The Institute's spring 2026 forecast predicts that […]

Economic research institute GKI's combined gauge of business and consumer confidence reached a 27-month high in April, chief researcher Raymund Petz said on Thursday. The index rose to -10.7 points in April from -13.9 points in the previous month, data published on GKI's website show. Petz noted that the survey for the gauge was conducted […]

Hungary's cash flow-based general government deficit reached HUF 3,420.4 billion at the end of March, the Ministry of National Economy confirmed in a detailed release of data on Wednesday. The central budget deficit reached HUF 3,242.6 billion and the social security funds were HUF 190.3 billion in the red, but separate state funds had a […]

The European Commission's meetings with the incoming Hungarian government have been "constructive and positive in tone", and a useful starting point "for the work that now needs to happen, particularly to unblock funds for the benefit of the Hungarian people," EC Deputy Chief Spokesperson Olof Gill told a daily press conference in Brussels on Monday. […]

The Budapest Stock Exchange (BSE) closed a strong week with significant, active trading following the parliamentary elections: the BUX index rose 4.46% to a new level, while all leading stocks gained ground and trading volume surged dramatically compared to the previous week. On Friday, the BUX closed at 138,813.03 points, up 4.46%, or 5,929.8 points […]

Analysis by GKI Economic Research suggests that while rating agencies monitored the Hungarian elections with intensified scrutiny, decisive judgment is improbable during the upcoming review cycle. Currently, Hungary’s sovereign debt is teetering near the lower boundary of the investment-grade category at all three major agencies — Fitch, Moody’s, and S&P — all of which maintain […]

International reserves of the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) stood at EUR 58.732 billion at the end of March, down EUR 1.132 billion from a month earlier, data released by the central bank show. Stock of cash, deposits and securities in the reserves rose by EUR 2.824 billion to EUR 40.693 billion, while stock of […]

Due to the change in government resulting from last Sunday’s parliamentary elections in Hungary, market expectations suggest that the new government’s economic policy will become more transparent and predictable in the coming years; measures such as special taxes, margin caps and fuel price controls will be phased out over time. That is according to Raiffeisen […]

András Kármán, the election-winning Tisza Party's expert on budget and tax policy, met National Bank of Hungary Governor Mihály Varga, at the latter's invitation. András Kármán said on Facebook that the parties agreed that the financial markets reacted favorably to Tisza's election win, but added that developments in Iran and the resulting energy price hikes […]

Output of Hungary's industrial sector fell 1.5% year-on-year in February, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) confirmed in a detailed reading of data on Wednesday. Output also fell 1.5% when adjusted for the number of workdays. The detailed data show output of the automotive industry, Hungary's biggest manufacturing sector, fell 4.0%. The segment accounted for 26% […]

Fitch Ratings said Hungary's incoming government faces "significant macroeconomic and public finances challenges" due to low growth, a large fiscal deficit, and high and rising government debt. The Tisza Party's landslide victory in Sunday's election, giving it a two-thirds majority in parliament, should support improved relations with the European Union and ease the risk of […]

According to the monthly balance of payments data released by the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) on Monday, the country’s balance of payments with foreign countries turned positive in February. The combined balance of the current account and the capital account turned to a surplus of EUR 317 million in February, according to preliminary data, […]