Hungaryʼs net external financing capacity - the combined surpluses of the current and capital accounts - was EUR 1.38 billion in the second quarter of 2018, state news agency MTI calculated, based on monthly preliminary data released by the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) on Tuesday.

Agricultural producer prices overall remained unchanged in June 2018 compared to June 2017, resulting from an increase of 3.5% in the average price of crop products and a decline of 5.6% in prices of livestock and animal products, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) reported on Tuesday.

In the second quarter of 2018, gross domestic product (GDP) in Hungary rose by 4.4% according to seasonally and calendar-adjusted and reconciled data, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said in a flash report released on Tuesday.

In June 2018, the volume of industrial output in Hungary grew by 4.2% year-on-year, according to a second estimate of data by the Central Statistical Office (KSH), confirming the headline figure released on August 8. Based on working day-adjusted data, production rose by 3.1%.

Gross salaries rose on average by HUF 30,000-40,000 in May year-on-year, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) reported, cited by pro-government daily Magyar Idők. The highest raises were in the sector of public administration.

The volume of construction output was 28.2% higher in June 2018 than a year earlier based on raw data. Output increased in both main groups of construction; by 15.2% in the construction of buildings, and by 48.8% in civil engineering works. Based on seasonally and working day-adjusted indices, output rose by 7.2% in June compared to the previous month.

In euro terms, exports grew by 8.9% and imports by 8.4% in June 2018 compared to the same month of the previous year, according to a first estimate of data for the external trade in goods from the Central Statistical Office (KSH). The trade surplus was up by EUR 119 million year-on-year.

In June 2018, the number of nights spent by international tourists decreased by 1.0%, while nights spent by domestic tourists increased by 0.2% compared to a year earlier, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) reported Thursday. Bad weather contributed to the low figures, as well as the absence of a long weekend in June.

Hungary’s Ministry for Innovation and Technology has signed a four-year partnership agreement with German engineering firm Siemens to launch a pilot program in preparation for a reform of the vocational training system and the introduction of dual education.

Consumer prices were 3.4% higher on average in July 2018 than a year earlier. Significant price increases have been measured over the past year for motor fuels as well as tobacco, according to figures released by the Central Statistical Office (KSH). The headline figure accelerated from 3.1% in June.

Hungaryʼs industrial output rose 4.2% year-on-year in June, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said in a first reading of data yesterday.

The government deficit, which had already surpassed the full-year target in June, has increased by a further 5%. The cash flow-based general government, excluding local councils, stood at HUF 1.491 trillion deficit at the end of July, the Ministry of Finance said today.

Hungaryʼs trade surplus came to EUR 596 million in May, according to a second reading of the data by the Central Statistical Office (KSH), revised upwards from EUR 577 mln in the first reading published last month.

The five-year survival rate for newly established Hungarian businesses stood at just over 37% in 2016, a summary of data by the Central Statistical Office (KSH) shows.

Industrial producer prices as a whole were 7.5% higher in June 2018 than in June 2017, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) reported. The change was essentially due to an 8% growth in minimum wages at the beginning of 2018, as well as to rising oil prices and the weakening of the Hungarian forint. 

The number of home building permits issued in the first half of 2018 fell 8.9% from the equivalent period a year earlier, to 18,066, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said on Monday, as reported by state news wire MTI.

Economic research institute GKI has confirmed its projection for this yearʼs GDP growth at 4% in its latest forecast sent to state news agency MTI on Friday.

Hungaryʼs rolling average three-month jobless rate reached 3.6% in April-June, declining from 3.7% in the preceding three-month period and down from 4.3% in the corresponding period a year earlier, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) said on Friday.

The volume of sales in retail shops increased by 7.1% in May, according to raw data, and by 7.7% when adjusted for calendar effects compared to the same period of the previous year, the Central Statistical Office (KSH) reported in a second estimate.

The Hungarian Parliament approved the 2019 budget on Friday, winding up the summer session. The house also approved several tax changes, including a controversial levy aimed at punishing NGOs seen to be funding or promoting what the government defines as illegal immigration.