But the analysts said they can imagine that the rate could be cut at the March rate-setting meeting, and a median of the analysts’ responses would put the base rate at 1.75% by the end of the year.

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) wound up a two-year easing cycle in mid-2014, and has kept its key base rate at 2.10% for the past six months, Hungarian news agency MTI added.