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 […]

As expected, the Monetary Council of the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) left its policy rate unchanged at its meeting this Tuesday. In the explanatory statement, the central bank stresses the importance of caution in view of deteriorating external developments. The press statement released after the meeting points out that MNB’s primary objective is to […]

Hungary's economy faces a challenging third quarter with zero growth expected and the forint at an 18-month low against the euro. This gloomy outlook could force the central bank to maintain current interest rates for an extended period. Deputy Governor Barnabás Virág of Hungary's central bank signaled a potential pause in interest-rate cuts at a […]

Hungary's external trade balance and its impact on the economy are regularly discussed by analysts, but it is mostly the trade balance in goods that is discussed. However, the other important component of the domestic external trade balance, the external trade balance in services, is also important to address in the shadow of the reindustrialization […]

The Hungarian forint has dropped to its lowest level in 18 months, driven by escalating tensions in the Middle East and recent rate cuts by the National Bank of Hungary (NBH), prompting investors to pull back. Despite these challenges, the central bank has reassured markets that it will maintain a "disciplined and tight" monetary policy […]