In September 2015, Hungary’s GKI-Erste economic sentiment index adjusted for seasonal effects reached this year’s peak, and the degree of optimism was only slightly lower than at the end of last year, which corresponded to a 17-year high.

Based on the actual consumption of households Hungary was the fourth poorest country in the European Union in 2013, according to Eurostat data published on Thursday. Actual Individual Consumption (AIC) in Hungary was 62% of the EU28 average last year.

Compared with its very high October value, the GKI-Erste economic sentiment index adjusted for seasonal effects decreased slightly in November. Expectations remained unchanged in the business sector, whereas they declined among consumers.

After one and a half years of spectacular rise, the GKI-Erste economic sentiment index reached a peak in April. After a decrease in May, expectations improved slightly in the business sector in June, whereas the consumer confidence index continued to decline.

Whereas 18% of Hungarian secondary school graduates have applied to college or university abroad, 36% of 9-11th graders are now planning to study outside the borders, a survey by the Institute for Economic and Enterprise Research (IEER) revealed.

There was a slight improvement in the GKI-Erste confidence indices following a plummet observed in March. Business confidence rose palpably while consumer confidence grew only marginally, and both remained below their respective February levels.

Trust in the European Union is especially strong among Hungarians but very few believe the Hungarian economy will improve soon, a Eurobarometer survey conducted in November 2010 shows.

The popularity of the European Union has increased in Hungary with 46 percent of people stating in early January that Hungary's accession has been beneficial to the country as against 38 percent last July. The figures are quoted from a survey by Szonda Ipsos.