Euro

Bulgaria's industrial sector faces a notable downturn, registering an 8.4% year-on-year decline in seasonally adjusted production for February 2024, as per the latest estimates from Eurostat.

In a recent report by the National Statistical Institute, Bulgaria's annual inflation rate for March witnessed a notable deceleration, settling at 3% compared to the previous month's figure of 3.0%. This marks the lowest inflation rate observed in the country since July 2021, when it also stood at 3 percent.

Bulgaria's aspirations to join the Eurozone in 2025 face significant hurdles as economic slowdown and political uncertainty pose formidable challenges, according to a recent analysis by the World Bank.

In a significant move toward Bulgaria's integration into the Eurozone, the European Commission (EC) has pledged support for the country's efforts to promote the adoption of the euro.

Economic growth in the six Western Balkan countries is projected to rise 3.2% this year and 3.5% in 2025, going back to pre-pandemic averages but still too low for faster convergence with the European Union, the World Bank has said in a report.

As Bulgaria gears up to join the Eurozone, citizens are voicing their concerns and expectations regarding the transition. According to an anonymous online survey that is still being conducted on the non-commercial platform "We, the Users," approximately 400 participants have shared their views on the matter.

BELGRADE - Serbia's public debt rose by 26.3 bln dinars to 4,268.1 bln dinars (36.4 bln euros) in February, accounting for 47.8 pct of GDP.

According to figures released by the Public Debt Administration of the Serbian Ministry of Finance, foreign currencies accounted for 77.7 pct of the total public debt at end-February.

BELGRADE - The Serbian dinar's official median exchange rate against the euro is 117.1191 dinars for one euro on Wednesday, which is a slight change from Tuesday, the National Bank of Serbia said.

The dinar is up by 0.1 pct against the euro m-o-m and y-o-y and steady relative to the beginning of the year.

Greece's economy is seen growing by 2.3% this year, well above the euro zone average, Greek central banker Yannis Stournaras said on Monday.

The projection is lower than a government estimate of 2.9% expansion.

Buoyed by falling inflation, the European Central Bank is expected to keep borrowing costs on hold one last time on April 11 while laying the ground for a first interest rate cut in June.

The Frankfurt-based institution has left its key rates unchanged since October 2023, following an unprecedented streak of hikes to tame red-hot inflation.