News about inflation
In the first quarter of 2026, Portugal (234), Italy (190), Spain (108), and France (105) recorded the highest number of strikes in the EU. The strikes were caused by issues in transportation, education, healthcare, and government agencies.
Galina Șelari, Ph.D. in Economics, appeared on the program “Expertise” that, when assessing the state of Moldova’s economy, it is necessary to look not only at the numbers but also at the presence of key factors that depend solely on the population and domestic resources—and in this sense, the Moldovan economy does not inspire confidence in the future.
Governments around the world are borrowing more money now than they did during the COVID-19 pandemic
Zurich has become the most expensive city in Europe in terms of housing costs, with the average price of apartments reaching €18,229 per square meter. This price is more than double that of Paris.
At its meeting on June 11, 2026, the European Central Bank (ECB) raised its three key interest rates by 25 basis points. This decision marked the first rate hike since September 2023 and was a response to inflationary pressures caused by the geopolitical crisis and the war in the Middle East. The ECB downgraded its forecast, expecting average inflation in 2026 to reach 3.0%. The baseline forecast for eurozone GDP growth in 2026 has been lowered to 0.8%.
The World Bank has lowered its global economic growth forecast for 2026 to 2.5%. This figure is the lowest since 2020, reflecting a general slowdown in economic activity. The revision is largely due to the risks and consequences of conflicts in the Middle East. The projected growth rates are significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels. In adverse scenarios, experts warn of the risk of growth slowing to as low as 1.3%.
Farmers across many European countries struggled this past winter and spring due to low purchase prices for last year’s potatoes, caused by a record surplus. However, in May and June, the situation began to improve. Prices for new potatoes are currently several times higher than those for last year’s crop.
Experts identified the reasons behind the decline in cryptocurrency prices, predicted future price trends, and discussed which events could influence market dynamics.
Consumer inflation in the U.S. accelerated to 4.2% year-over-year in May—the highest level since April 2023.
In May 2026, average consumer prices in Moldova rose by 6.8% year-over-year and by 4.9% year-to-date. The annual inflation rate in April remained unchanged. In April, annual inflation reached a four-month high following a January low of 4.8%. The data is provided by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
The situation on the global sugar market has begun to change—signs and indications of a global rise in sugar prices have emerged. The impact of trends in the international sugar market on Moldova’s sugar market is limited—due to a high (approximately 75%) basic customs duty and, consequently, limited imports.
Hotels.com has released a ranking of the most affordable five-star hotels in the world. The study is based on internal booking data and takes into account the average cost of staying at premium-class hotels—no more than 200 euros per night.
The eurozone economy shrank by 0.2% in January-March 2026 compared to the previous quarter, according to revised Eurostat data. This is the first decline in eurozone GDP recorded since the fourth quarter of 2022.
House prices in Germany will continue to rise until at least 2028, despite expensive mortgages and weak consumer demand. The main driver will remain the shortage of new housing against the backdrop of high construction costs.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) predicts a recession in Romania’s economy in 2026.
Bitcoin fell to a near four-month low on Thursday, continuing its decline amid continued negative market sentiment towards cryptocurrencies: escalating tensions in the Middle East have increased investors’ risk-aversion.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has downwardly revised Moldova’s economic growth forecast for 2026 amid risks caused by the war, energy crisis and instability of international markets.
After a long period of stabilization, consumer prices in Ukraine have resumed growth. According to the National Bank of the country, the cycle of inflation slowdown, which lasted since June 2025, ended in January 2026. This year, the main driver of price growth in the Ukrainian market was a significant rise in the price of energy resources. However, the impact of inflation in the EU is also gradually increasing.
The possible conclusion of a peace treaty between the U.S. and Iran before the meeting of the European Central Bank (ECB), which will be held next week, does not deprive the regulator of the grounds for raising interest rates. This was stated by Pierre Wunsch, head of the Belgian central bank, in an interview with the Financial Times, making it clear that he is strongly in favor of a rate increase.
The fate of the world economy depends on the outcome of the conflict in the Middle East, which is already holding back its growth. In the future, it could trigger recessions and significantly higher inflation, said the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
