News about inflation
Chisinau will not receive money, but the rigidity of criteria for evaluating economic policy will remain at the level of standard IMF loan agreements. Any violation of the reform schedule will instantly deprive Moldova of the status of a “reliable borrower” before other donors.
Yesterday, the IMF Mission and the Government of Moldova reached an expert-level agreement on a new policy coordination instrument (PCI) for the next 3 years, without financing.
The National Energy Regulatory Agency (NERA) has set new maximum fuel prices that will be in effect tomorrow, May 22.
End-of-Mission press releases include statements of IMF staff teams that convey preliminary findings after a visit to a country. The views expressed in this statement are those of the IMF staff and do not necessarily represent the views of the IMF’s Executive Board. Based on the preliminary findings of this mission, staff will prepare a report that, subject to management approval, will be presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for discussion and decision.
Conflict in the Middle East is increasing pressure on Sri Lanka’s tea industry, putting one of the country’s key export sectors and the millions of people who depend on Ceylon tea production at risk.
The global luxury industry is facing a noticeable cooling of demand after several years of record growth. After the pandemic, major fashion houses actively raised prices, taking advantage of high demand and the desire of buyers for status consumption. However, this strategy is now starting to backfire.
Experts at leading market maker Wintermute have pointed to the risks of further bitcoin depreciation amid the deteriorating macroeconomic situation.
The G7 countries are unanimous in their support for Ukraine. Following the G7 finance ministers’ meeting in Paris, French Economy and Finance Minister Roland Lescure reiterated the G7 countries’ intention to “keep pressure on Russia”.
The drop in Arabica prices continues for the second month in a row. Since the beginning of May, coffee has fallen in price by 7.7%, and in April the decline amounted to 4.3%. Earlier this month, the cost has already broken through the psychological mark of 6 thousand dollars per ton – it happened for the first time since November 14, 2024. However, after that the market corrected upward a bit.
In April, in annualized terms, producer prices of industrial products increased by 1.1%, according to official statistics, and by 0.4% for the month. This means that the pressure on inflation is mainly exerted by external factors and the service sector, rather than local production.
The National Energy Regulatory Agency (NERA) has set new maximum fuel prices that will be in effect tomorrow, May 20.
German sandal maker Birkenstock is rapidly losing the “new luxury” halo that helped the company pull off one of the most talked-about IPOs of recent years. While in 2023 investors saw the brand as a future competitor to major luxury industry players, today the market increasingly views Birkenstock as a high-quality but niche footwear business with limited growth potential.
In May on the fruit and berry market of Moldova, contrary to expectations, the prices for strawberries did not continue to decrease, but increased significantly – on average by 10-15%.
Athens International Airport S.A. reported a failed first quarter of 2026: Greece’s largest airport is growing traffic but losing revenue due to massive discounts for airlines.
The National Energy Regulatory Agency (NERA) has set new maximum fuel prices that will be in effect tomorrow, May 19.
The bad news is that energy and commodity shortages will push prices higher. The good news is that core inflation remains largely subdued, giving central banks room to maneuver. The bad news is that inflation is rising sharply in the euro area and developing countries face rising inflationary risks from possible food shocks and climate risks. The good news is that a cooler labor market and incomes are keeping core commodity prices in check.
Retail turnover in Ukraine in the first quarter of 2026 increased by 11.2% compared to the same period of 2025. In March, the growth accelerated to 12.8 percent in annual terms, the State Statistics Service of Ukraine said.
On Friday, the Romanian leu weakened by 0.2% to 5.2035 per euro ahead of the central bank’s interest rate decision, which took place on the same day but later. This fall was due to investors’ concerns about the central bank’s further policy and the tense economic situation.
In January, year-end inflation in Ukraine was forecasted at 7.5 percent. However, already in the April forecast it reaches 9.4%. However, the projected long-term trend is moderately positive, then inflation at the end of next year will be 6.5%, and in 2028 – 5%.
The conflict in the Middle East, now in its 11th week, has led to the closure of a crucial shipping channel and a spike in energy prices.
