Lithuania’s two largest banks have raised their inflation forecasts for 2025, BNS reports. SEB Bank now expects annual inflation to reach 3.3% in 2025, while Swedbank’s forecast now stands at 3.0%. In November 2025, both banks projected that annual inflation would reach 2.7% in 2025. The banks kept their inflation forecast for 2026 unchanged at…
The total turnover of retail trade enterprises in Estonia amounted to EUR 10.4bn in 2024, which was down 3% from 2023, according to preliminary data from Statistics Estonia, Baltic News Network reports. Retail sales in grocery stores fell by 3% and in stores selling manufactured goods by 4% over a year. Retail sales of automotive…
Latvia’s total retail trade turnover rose by 1% in 2024 compared to 2023, according to calendar-adjusted data at constant prices published by the Central Statistical Bureau (CSP), LSM reports. The annual turnover of retail trade in food products decreased by 1.6%, whereas retail trade of non-food products (except automotive fuel) increased by 2.3%. Retail sales…
Lithuania’s average gross monthly wage amounted to EUR 2,218 in 2024, which was up by EUR 204 (10.2%) from 2023, according to the State Data Agency (VDA), BNS reports. The average net monthly wage increased by EUR 116 (9.3%) to EUR 1,365. Real wages rose by 8.5% over a year. The main drivers of wage…
Estonia’s consumer price index rose by 3.5% in 2024 compared with 2023, according to revised data from Statistics Estonia. Changes in food and non-alcoholic beverage prices had the biggest impact on the index in 2024, accounting for 23.7% of the total rise. Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages rose by 3.2%, alcoholic beverages and tobacco…
The four policy priorities of Latvia’s coalition government in 2025 are “security, support for families, economic growth, and reducing bureaucracy,” Prime Minister Evika Silina announced, LSM reports. She will begin individual meetings with ministers to discuss the priorities, according to LETA. Silina said that national security remained the government’s most pressing priority, highlighting the need…
The Investment and Development Agency of Latvia (LIAA) helped attract 45 foreign investment projects, which will create an estimated 2,023 new jobs, in 2024, LSM reports. The total value of the projects is EUR 655.4mn, which is up 6% from 2023. The biggest investments were in high-value-added manufacturing, ICT, energy, and aviation. LIAA’s target is…
The gross value added (GVA) generated by the forestry and logging industry in the Baltic States was highest in Latvia in 2022, according to Eurostat data, LSM reports. The sector’s GVA totalled EUR 490mn in current prices in Latvia in 2022, which was up from EUR 123mn in 2000. The forestry industry’s GVA totalled EUR…
People in Latvia are more optimistic about their financial situation, according to a new SKDS poll for Luminor Bank conducted in December 2024, Baltic News Network reports. The survey showed that 42% of respondents expected their financial situation to improve in 2025, with 22% expecting much better and 21% slightly better finances. Meanwhile, 24% of…