Hungarians have a high degree of trust in public authorities to protect their consumer rights, but little confidence in mechanisms designed to air grievances over unfair commercial practices, an annual report by the European Commission shows, Hungarian news agency MTI reported.

Hungarian food safety authority NÉBIH yesterday warned of an occurrence of African Swine Fever (ASF), a disease with a near 100% fatality rate in pigs, just 20 km from the border.

The Hungarian Investment Promotion Agency (HIPA) helped coordinate decisions on 47 investments worth a combined EUR 1.3 billion in the first half of the year, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Péter Szijjártó said at a press conference today.

The Government Debt Management Agency (ÁKK) sold HUF 15 bln of discount three-month T-bills at auction today, in line with the original offer.

President Julio César Maglione, on behalf of the World Swimming Association (FINA), awarded the organization’s highest ranking to Prime Minister Viktor Orbán yesterday in the Parliament building in Budapest, according to reports.

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) allotted HUF 150 billion of one- and 12-month forint swaps against euros at a tender yesterday, data released by the central bank shows, Hungarian news agency MTI has reported.

Hungarian state-owned railways company MÁV is trying to tackle its labor shortage by offering a HUF 35,000 bonus for workers who refer an acquaintance, according to a report by Hungarian daily Magyar Idők. 

Hungary’s volume of retail sales was up by 6% in May, according to raw data, compared to the same month a year earlier, and grew by 5.5% adjusted for calendar effects, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said this morning in a second estimate of data that was 0.1 of a percentage point higher than that published in the first estimate, KSH noted.

Economic research institute GKIʼs combined gauge of consumer and business confidence rose to 4.2 points in July, a historic high, from 3.2 points in the previous month, Hungarian news agency MTI reported. The business confidence index rose to 11.3 points from 9.5 points.

Hungaryʼs government has decided to offer subsidies for the purchase by businesses of another 30,000 bank card terminals, the Minister for National Economy said yesterday, according to Hungarian news agency MTI.

The Hungarian Red Cross has been supporting 1,300 people affected by severe storms in late June, with financial and technical assistance from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), according to a press statement sent to the Budapest Business Journal.

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) today said it has fined Porsche Bank HUF 19 million over shortcomings affecting the lenderʼs corporate governance, risk management, capital requirement calculation, accountancy, data reporting and IT activities.

The state of Hungary will sell its 36.5% stake in Granit Bank, Minister for National Economy Mihály Varga said yesterday, Hungarian news agency MTI has reported.

The Government Debt Management Agency (ÁKK) sold a combined HUF 34.5 billion of bonds at auction today, cutting its original offer by HUF 5.5 bln on paltry demand for the shortest maturity, Hungarian news agency MTI reported.

Hungaryʼs cash flow-based general government deficit reached HUF 911.2 billion at the end of June, 78.1% of the full-year target, the National Economy Ministry confirmed in a second reading of data today, Hungarian news agency MTI reported. The deficit does not include the balance of local councils.

Hungary’s average gross earnings were up by 12.9% to HUF 296,100 in May, as compared to the same month a year earlier, while they grew by 12.1% to HUF 288,900 in the January-May period, according to a first release of data published by the Central Statistical Office (KSH) today.

Spending on research and development in Hungary reached HUF 427.2 bln last year, falling 8.8% from the previous year, a summary of data by the Central Statistics Office (KSH) shows.

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) accepted placements of HUF 50 billion in its three-month deposit at a tender yesterday, level with the maturing depo stock, Hungarian news agency MTI reported.

Hungaryʼs government has approved more than HUF 600 million in personnel and one-off costs towards establishing an independent gambling oversight authority, a resolution published in yesterdayʼs issue of the official gazette Magyar Közlöny shows.

The Government Debt Management Agency bought a combined HUF 19.1 bln of bonds expiring in 2018 and 2019 before maturity at a reverse auction today, Hungarian news agency MTI reported.