Czechs are spending increasing amounts of money on Christmas, according to a survey carried out by the agency Nielsen Admosphere.

Businesses have only a bit more than half-a-year left to identify cross-border transactions and constructions that fall under EUʼs DAC6 directive, which requires additional reporting of cross-border arrangements, Big Four advisory company Deloitte says.

The National Bank of Hungary (MNB) will offer Hungarian lenders preferences on capital requirements linked to lending for energy-efficient homes, deputy governor Csaba Kandrács told Hungarian news agency MTI on Monday.

The National Bank of Serbia said it has decided to hold its key repo rate at 2.25%. The central bank said it was guided by the inflation outlook and macroeconomic indicators from the domestic and international environment.

Hungaryʼs Competition Office (GVH) on Saturday said it fined Vodafone Magyarország almost HUF 1.2 billion for false advertising, state news wire MTI reports.

Despite continuous recruitment, firefighters are facing increasing shortages and severe wage tensions between firefighter salaries and starting salaries and allowances offered in comparable segments of the civilian sphere, reports hrportal.hu. 

The population of the Czech Republic grew by more than 30,000 over the first nine months of this year to 10.69 million, the Czech Statistics Office (CZSO) has announced.

French-owned carmaker Opel will start producing a 1.2-liter, three-cylinder turbo petrol engine at its plant in Szentgotthárd (W Hungary) in 2020, the spokesman for the local unit told state news wire MTI.

Hungarian property company Wing is now the majority owner of Polish real estate developer Echo Investment, a company traded on the Warsaw Stock Exchange, marking a milestone in Wingʼs efforts to become a major real estate firm in the region, according to a press release sent to the Budapest Business Journal.

Danish manufacturer Vestas says it has received an order from Akuo Energy to supply three Polish wind projects with turbines that have a combined capacity of 132 megawatt (MW).

Hungary made HUF 57 billion in payments for the upgrade of the Paks nuclear power plant in December, János Süli, the minister in charge of the project, said at a conference organized by business daily Világgazdaság this week, Hungarian news agency MTI reports.

Müpa Budapest CEO Csaba Káel has been playing an important role in building the worldwide reputation of Budapest as one of Europe’s vibrant cultural destinations. Since September he is also the Government Commissioner for developing the Hungarian national motion picture industry, as well as the chairman of the executive board of Budapest Spring Festival, as Müpa Budapest is not just a key location, but the main organizer of the prestigious event series, that has just announced its anniversary program.

A packed house of guests from Hungary’s international community united to “Feel Good and Do Good” at XpatLoop’s 19th anniversary celebration, raising HUF 4.6 million for Hungarian children in need.

It’s that most wonderful time of the year, to borrow from a famous festive song, when attention eventually turns to Tokaji Aszú, which is Hungary’s greatest gift to the world of wine.

There are a staggering number of kebab shops in Budapest. Staggering being the operative word because, for many of us, a kebab is simply something we aim at our faces after a long, mostly liquid night out. If you’ve ever eaten a kebab you’ll know that it can sometimes be a risky business. Quality can vary wildly and some kebabs should come with a health warning.

Budapest can look forward to a strong Christmas and winter tourist season, with flight bookings to the Hungarian capital from long-haul travelers up 29.3% for the period from December 15 through January 15, according to research by travel analytics firm ForwardKeys.

The owner of McDonald’s Corporation’s Hungarian company has told portfolio.hu that he wants to create more modern restaurants, new and expanded services, and there will be more "Meki" (Hungarian slang for McDonald’s) in small towns.

A feasibility study on the renovation of the expressway connecting the main parts of Budapest to Ferenc Liszt International Airport is expected to be finished early 2020 and the project itself could be wound up around 2024, Gergely Gulyás, head of the Prime Ministerʼs Office, said at a regular press briefing, state news wire MTI reports.

As our smartphones become a gateway to virtually any errand that we might need to run, online transactions are on the rise. Parallel to this, online fraud is also growing, so be vigilant as you go about your Christmas e-shopping. Ferenc Biró, partner at EY Hungary’s forensic services discusses the latest online fraud sentiment with the Budapest Business Journal.

The Hungarian online retail market is now catching up with international peers. As Black Friday and the Christmas Holidays bring e-commerce to its annual peak, online retailers are readying themselves for the stampede.