David Landry

Tourism

Lufthansa passenger count up 4.4% in 2013

Lufthansa group carried 1.01 million passengers on Hungarian flights in 2013, up 4.4% from the previous year, country director Gábor...

EU

EC to arbitrate Austria-Hungary farm dispute; Fazekas miffed

Tension between Austrian and Hungarian agricultural ministries is escalating, with yet another salvo in the war of words fired from...

Analysis

Hungary 4th “Most Loving” country (Aw, that’s nice.)

An annual by-product of the Valentine’s Day season over at Gallup Organization international pollsters is its simple survey consisting of...

Conferences

Economy Minister: Don’t compare Hungary to emerging markets

Hungary’s economy does not suffer from balance problems that would have justified the recent significant weakening of the forint but...

Deals

FHB stock takes wild ride on way to tiny increase

FHB stock took a wild ride on the Budapest bourse yesterday, and its day-ending value of HUF 920 on a...

EU

Despite EU approval, Hungary vows fight on GMO corn

Hungary’s government will take all necessary measures to prevent the cultivation in Hungary of Pioneer’s 1507 genetically modified maize, the...

Deals

MNB: “Several” banks in violation of free withdrawal law

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) has found in a probe that several banks have unlawfully passed on the cost...

History

WJC calls out Orbán; protest at Jobbik meet

Hungary’s sitting government has long touted its role in the fight against anti-Semitism; a recent comment from Rabbinical Centre of...

EU

ECJ to rule on excise tax-free pálinka distilling

The European Court of Justice is expected to rule on an issue near and dear to Hungarian hearts this week,...

Analysis

Nice comeback for forint: Fastest acceleration since 2007 on Friday

Thanks to the news of some positive economic indicators, the forint regained some ground lost over the past two weeks...

Food

Absolute zero: 0% CPI reported for Hungary in January

Hungary’s twelve-month consumer price index (CPI) fell to 0% in January from 0.4% in December, the Central Statistics Office (KSH)...

Tourism

First estimate puts Hungary GDP growth at 2.7% for Q4 2013

Today’s flash estimate from the Central Statistics Office (KSH) runs as follows: On the basis of the preliminary estimation of...

Competition

More bad news for Budapest taxi companies in BKK audit

The Budapest Public Transport Center (BKK) has reported faults with about one in every five taxis in a recent five-month...

Visits

Opposition blasts government for Iran holiday wishes

The left-wing opposition party coalition known as “Unity” lived up to its name this week, coming together to roundly criticize...

Construction

KSH: Construction output up 11.4% in 2013

Today’s release from the Central Statistics Office (KSH) focuses on the construction industry, with the latest round of figures showing...

Visits

Hungary: Loving it, leaving it

When I first came here, local folks mostly asked me “Why Hungary?” Now when I tell them I’m leaving, they...

Int'l Relations

Szijjártó declares end of classic diplomacy

Perhaps gearing up for the rumored merging of foreign trade and foreign affairs ministries in a new government composition to...

Party Popularity

EP election: Fidesz, Jobbik tops on low voter turnout

Cruising to a landslide victory in which the governing Fidesz-KDNP coalition garnered 51.5% of the vote, opposition party MSzP and...

Deals

Ablon rechristened as CPI Hungary

Due to the takeover of its Hungarian operations by Czech Republic-based CPI Group in mid-2013, real estate firm Ablon has...

MNB

Debt rises to all-time high, government spins figure

Hungary’s gross consolidated government sector debt, calculated at nominal value, in line with the Maastricht methodology, rose to HUF 24.904...

MNB

Debt rises to all-time high, government spins figure

Hungary’s gross consolidated government sector debt, calculated at nominal value, in line with the Maastricht methodology, rose to HUF 24.904...

World

Dep. CEO: OTP Bank will not withdraw from E. Ukraine

Following the release of OTP Bank’s first quarter earnings report showing disappointing results due in large part to heavy losses...

MNB

Inflation rate concerns Varga, MNB deputy governor

National Economy Minister Mihály Varga on Thursday said the economy is in “top form” and the country’s fiscal position is...

Int'l Relations

Oslo awaits response from Hungary on suspended grants

Talks between Hungary and Norway on the suspension of funding from the EEA and Norway Grants scheme are not underway...

Automotive

Industrial output in March up 10.6% y.o.y.

Figures released by the Central Statistics Office (KSH) today indicate that in March 2014, industrial gross output in Hungary increased...

Deals

MOL: Report on management of INA “shameful”

Oil-and-gas giant MOL termed “shameful” the report of advisory Oil and Gas Consulting to the government of Croatia on MOL’s...

Initiatives

Epson study considers trends in SME printing habits

A study commissioned by Epson Hungary and undertaken by KutatóCentrum sheds some light on trends in printing among local small-...

Initiatives

Orbán supports Poland plan for EU energy union

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was in Poland this week to meet with his counterpart Donald Tusk on various issues headlined...

Deals

Nine of 35 banks to contest National Bank fines

Nine lenders, among them Raiffeisen Bank, Erste Bank Hungary and FHB Commercial Bank, are contesting fines by the National Bank...

Pharma

Michelin to close Budapest plant due to “shrinking tire market”

Michelin Hungária today announced the planned closure of its plant in Budapest. Labeling the facility “outdated,” the plant will be...

Hungary: Loving it, leaving it

When I first came here, local folks mostly asked me “Why Hungary?” Now when I tell them I’m leaving, they...

Szijjártó declares end of classic diplomacy

Perhaps gearing up for the rumored merging of foreign trade and foreign affairs ministries in a new government composition to...

EP election: Fidesz, Jobbik tops on low voter turnout

Cruising to a landslide victory in which the governing Fidesz-KDNP coalition garnered 51.5% of the vote, opposition party MSzP and...

Ablon rechristened as CPI Hungary

Due to the takeover of its Hungarian operations by Czech Republic-based CPI Group in mid-2013, real estate firm Ablon has...

Debt rises to all-time high, government spins figure

Hungary’s gross consolidated government sector debt, calculated at nominal value, in line with the Maastricht methodology, rose to HUF 24.904...

Debt rises to all-time high, government spins figure

Hungary’s gross consolidated government sector debt, calculated at nominal value, in line with the Maastricht methodology, rose to HUF 24.904...

Dep. CEO: OTP Bank will not withdraw from E. Ukraine

Following the release of OTP Bank’s first quarter earnings report showing disappointing results due in large part to heavy losses...

Inflation rate concerns Varga, MNB deputy governor

National Economy Minister Mihály Varga on Thursday said the economy is in “top form” and the country’s fiscal position is...

Oslo awaits response from Hungary on suspended grants

Talks between Hungary and Norway on the suspension of funding from the EEA and Norway Grants scheme are not underway...

Industrial output in March up 10.6% y.o.y.

Figures released by the Central Statistics Office (KSH) today indicate that in March 2014, industrial gross output in Hungary increased...

MOL: Report on management of INA “shameful”

Oil-and-gas giant MOL termed “shameful” the report of advisory Oil and Gas Consulting to the government of Croatia on MOL’s...

Epson study considers trends in SME printing habits

A study commissioned by Epson Hungary and undertaken by KutatóCentrum sheds some light on trends in printing among local small-...

Orbán supports Poland plan for EU energy union

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was in Poland this week to meet with his counterpart Donald Tusk on various issues headlined...

Nine of 35 banks to contest National Bank fines

Nine lenders, among them Raiffeisen Bank, Erste Bank Hungary and FHB Commercial Bank, are contesting fines by the National Bank...

Michelin to close Budapest plant due to “shrinking tire market”

Michelin Hungária today announced the planned closure of its plant in Budapest. Labeling the facility “outdated,” the plant will be...