The average gross monthly wage in Estonia amounted to EUR 2,007 in the second quarter of 2024, which was up 7.2% from the same period of 2023, according to Statistics Estonia, The Baltic Guide reports. Wage growth has slowed down over the last four quarters. The average wage was highest in Tallinn (EUR 2,339), Harjumaa…
Lithuania’s GDP growth will amount to 2.4% in 2024 and 2.6% in 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) latest forecast, BNS reports. The country’s economic growth will be driven by the growth of real wages, public investments, and low inflation, the IMF report states. Average annual inflation will reach 1.2% in 2024, the…
Estonia’s incoming ruling coalition has agreed to implement budget cuts across all ministries, including defence and interior affairs, ERR reports. Margus Tsahkna, chairman of Estonia 200, said that each ministry would likely face a percentage-based cut to salaries and management costs, and that no new jobs would be created. The coalition plans to extend the…
Inflation in Estonia is expected to increase as of autumn 2024, with overall inflation projected to reach 4% by the end of the year, according to some analysts, ERR reports. The analysts attribute the anticipated rise to persistently high energy prices and wage growth driving up service costs. Despite a significant 40% surge in grocery…
Latvia has a shortage of more than 1,000 police officers, Interior Minister Rihards Kozlovskis stated, LSM reports. The biggest shortage is in the State Police. In 2023, as many as 200 more officers left the State Police than were recruited. Kozlovskis said that he would ask for more funding to raise salaries in internal affairs…
Estonia’s ruling coalition parties have agreed to boost Estonia’s economic competitiveness by developing new industries and focusing on nationwide development, ERR reports. The three parties aim to reduce bureaucracy and use EU funds and CO2 money for industrial growth. The coalition plans to distribute subsidies for large investments across Estonia to raise wages and improve…
Latvia’s state-owned postal services provider, Latvijas Pasts, has submitted a new tariff plan for universal postal services to the Public Utilities Commission (SPRK), LETA reports. The company plans to raise tariffs on the domestic delivery of letters, parcels, and press publications as well as for cross-border postal services as of 2025. Latvijas Pasts said that…
Amid rising incomes and optimism about their financial situation, Lithuanians are spending more on food and non-essentials but are increasingly reluctant to dine out due to high restaurant prices driven by rising labour costs and the expiration of pandemic-era tax breaks, LRT reports. While supermarket food sales are boosting economic growth, restaurant turnover has fallen…
Slowing inflation and strong wage growth in Estonia have increased people’s purchasing power, according to the Bank of Estonia, BNS reports. In June 2024, the consumer price index rose by only 2.5% on year, which was the slowest rate in three years, primarily due to falling energy prices. At the same time, most services have…