Latvia’s tax revenue totalled EUR 13.414bn in 2023, which was EUR 1.188bn (9.7%) less than in 2022, according to the Finance Ministry, LETA reports. Annual tax revenue was 2.7% more than the EUR 13.058bn planned. General government tax revenue reached 2.9% above target at EUR 12.639bn, including EUR 10.514bn of state budget revenue (2.3%) and…
Estonia’s retail turnover totalled EUR 10.5bn in 2023, which was down 8% at constant prices compared to 2022, according to preliminary data from Statistics Estonia, ERR reports. The retail turnover of grocery stores declined by 4%, automotive fuel by 5%, and manufactured goods by 11% over a year.
Estonia’s real GDP will continue to decline by 0.3% in 2024 but will increase by 2.8% in 2025, according to Swedbank’s latest macroeconomic forecast, ERR reports. The bank expects the current recession in Estonia to end in the middle of 2024. Moderate growth will return in 2025, driven by stronger domestic demand and exports. Annual…
International rating agency Moody’s has reaffirmed Latvia’s credit rating at A3 with a stable outlook, LSM reported. The agency noted the stability of Latvia’s public finances and general government debt. Moody’s expects the general government deficit to be around 2.9% of GDP in 2024 and to gradually decline to 2.6% in 2025 and to 1.7%…
Estonia’s GDP declined by around 3% over a year in the fourth quarter of 2023, according to Statistics Estonia’s flash estimate, ERR reports. Robert Müürsepp, team lead of national accounts at Statistics Estonia, said that the current recession has slowed down compared to preceding quarters. Compared to the third quarter of 2023, the GDP remained…
Lithuania’s permanent population totalled 2,886,500 people in the beginning of 2024, which was 29,000 (1%) more than in the same period of 2023, according to the State Data Agency (VDA), BNS reports. Around 22,000 permanent residents emigrated from Lithuania in 2023, which was up 44% from 15,300 in 2022. Some 12,000 foreigners and 10,000 Lithuanian…
Latvia’s ruling coalition has agreed to ban imports of Russian and Belarusian grain, BNS reports. The coalition expects the parliament, the Saeima, to pass a bill on the ban in February 2024. Agriculture Minister Armands Krauze said that companies using Russian grain would be ineligible for state support. Also, the Food and Veterinary Service (PVD)…
The Estonian Educational Personnel Union (EHL) has ended a nationwide strike of teachers and accepted the government’s proposal allocating an additional EUR 5.7mn to raise teacher salaries in 2024, ERR reports. Under the agreement, the minimum salary for general education teachers will rise by EUR 17 to EUR 1,820 per month. Also, collective negotiations will…
Estonia ranked best and Latvia worst in the Baltic States on Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perceptions Index, LSM reported. Estonia ranked 12th out of 180 countries worldwide in 2023, which was up from 14th place in 2022. Lithuania ranked 34th (33rd) and Latvia 36th (39th). Estonia scored 76 points on the index in 2023, which…