Consumer confidence in Estonia declined sharply while overall business confidence improved in October 2026, according to Statistics Estonia, ERR reports. The consumer confidence index stood at -32.4 percentage points, which was down from -23.5 points in September 2026. The confidence of Estonian consumers in their own financial situation and the country’s general economic situation decreased…
The international credit rating agency, Fitch Ratings, has affirmed Lithuania’s long-term foreign-currency issuer default rating at A+ with a stable outlook, the Finance Ministry announced, BNS reports. The agency pointed to Lithuania’s credible policy framework, EU and eurozone membership, resilient economic growth, moderate government debt, and high institutional quality. Risks were related to the current…
An overwhelming majority of Lithuanians think that the current situation in the country is heading in the wrong direction, according to Baltijos Tyrimai’s latest poll for ELTA, DELFI reports. The public opinion survey showed that 62% of Lithuanian residents were pessimistic about the country’s situation in September-October 2026. Meanwhile, 23% of respondents said that the…
Income inequality in Latvia and Lithuania was among the highest in the EU in 2025, according to Eurostat data, LSM reported. Latvia’s Gini coefficient, which measures wealth distribution, stood at 35.6, which was up from 34.2 in 2024 and the second-highest in the entire EU. Lithuania’s Gini coefficient was the EU’s third-highest at 35.5 in…
Latvia’s state budget for 2027 will implement a policy of austerity, control, and reform, Finance Minister Maris Kucinskis announced, LSM reports. Speaking in an interview with Latvijas Radio, Kucinskis said that the government would freeze budget spending and public sector wages. At the same time, the government did not intend to raise taxes in 2027,…
The recycling rate for packaging waste in the Baltic States was highest in Estonia in 2024, according to Eurostat data, LSM reported. The recycling rate stood at 69.9% in Estonia, which was up from 68.5% in 2023. The rate was 66.9% (60.7%) in Lithuania and 66.3% (63.1%) in Latvia. The average rate in the EU…
The international credit rating agency, Fitch Ratings, has affirmed Latvia’s long-term issuer default rating at A- with a stable outlook, LSM reports. The agency noted Latvia’s “credible policy framework” and lower government debt than rating peers. However, Latvia had a higher exposure to geopolitical risks, smaller economy, lower GDP per capita, and weaker external finances…
The Estonian government of Prime Minister Kristen Michal has won a vote of no confidence in the country’s parliament, the Riigikogu, ERR reports. Altogether 34 out of the 101 MPs voted in favour of the motion, which was signed by the opposition Fatherland, Estonian Centre Party, and Conservative People’s Party of Estonia as well as…
Human rights organisations and trade unions in Lithuania expressed concern about widespread exploitation of foreign workers in the country, BNS reported. Trade unions said that third-country nationals often had their passports or residence permits taken away at work, were assigned jobs different from those agreed, and were being subjected to excessive overtime and arbitrary fines….
