Varga Augurs Return to Growth in H2 2023

Image by Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.com
Finance Minister Mihály Varga said Hungary's GDP could start growing again in the second half of the year at a conference organized by investment fund manager VIG Befektetési Alapkezelő Magyarország in Budapest on Tuesday, news agency MTI reports.
Hungary could "leave behind" the quarters of recession in the last two quarters of the year, Varga said.
Hungary's GDP fell 1.7% year-on-year in the first half of 2023.
Varga said inflation would fall into the single digits by year-end and acknowledged the impact of measures taken in tandem with the National Bank of Hungary (MNB) to bring CPI down.
He pointed to "favorable tendencies" indicated by the trade balance and noted that the current account had finished the second quarter with a surplus.
He said that financing for the 3.9%-of-GDP deficit target for this year was "in order" and added that state debt relative to GDP would fall.
ADVERTISEMENT
SUPPORT THE BUDAPEST BUSINESS JOURNAL
Producing journalism that is worthy of the name is a costly business. For 27 years, the publishers, editors and reporters of the Budapest Business Journal have striven to bring you business news that works, information that you can trust, that is factual, accurate and presented without fear or favor.
Newspaper organizations across the globe have struggled to find a business model that allows them to continue to excel, without compromising their ability to perform. Most recently, some have experimented with the idea of involving their most important stakeholders, their readers.
We would like to offer that same opportunity to our readers. We would like to invite you to help us deliver the quality business journalism you require. Hit our Support the BBJ button and you can choose the how much and how often you send us your contributions.