Macroeconomics

The minimum wage threshold for foreign citizens working in Moldova is 50% of the average wage in the economy. Local workers have no such guarantees, Logos Press reported.

The beginning of 2026 is marked by a series of decisions and processes that will largely set the financial trajectory of Moldova for the coming year. The focus is on the National Bank’s policy, inflation dynamics, the state of foreign exchange reserves and the Moldovan leu exchange rate.

The volume of new loans granted to individuals in Moldova in January 2026 amounted to 1.865 billion lei (or 35.5% of the total crediting volume of 5.254 billion lei). This figure is 17.5% lower compared to December 2025, Logos Press reported.

When the market is healthy, it requires no explanation. It functions on its own: apartments are sold, banks lend, developers build, and buyers buy. The state is limited to the role of an observer.

Kazakhstan has entered the top 50 largest economies in the world in terms of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2026, reports Logos Press.

The Ministry of Finance of Georgia has published statistics on the state debt for January 2026, according to which its total volume is $9.5 billion, which is $200 million more than a year earlier, Logos Press reports.

The UK retail sector is on the cusp of major staffing changes, with most major chains planning to cut hours and staff and freeze hiring of new workers, according to Logos Press.

The US has long been the main driver of global economic growth, including now, thanks to the boom in artificial intelligence (AI). This boom shows no signs of cooling, and it is financed by dollars, which remain the central pillar of global finance.

For the first time in four years, Moldova has registered an annual growth in industrial production. This indicator increased by 5.4% in 2025 against the level of 2024, Logos Press reported.

UPDATED. Amid a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found Trump’s already imposed duties illegal, the president of the United States has imposed new additional 10% import duties on all countries, Logos Press reported.

The International Monetary Fund has called on the Chinese authorities to accelerate the transition from an export-oriented development model to an economy based on domestic consumption and sustainable growth in domestic markets, Logos Press reported.

In global currency markets, the U.S. dollar rose more than 1% this week. This was helped by positive economic data, a tougher stance from the Federal Reserve and tensions between the US and Iran, which kept markets on edge, Logos Press reports.

The Chinese government sees the current risks of the United States imposing tariffs against many countries as a chance to reshape international supply chains in its favor, reducing dependence on the U.S. market and strengthening its position in the European Union, the Persian Gulf and North America, Logos Press reported.

Bitcoin trading remained volatile on Thursday, rising to around $67,000 after briefly falling to around $65,900, according to Logos Press.

In recent years, the debate on the regulation of cross-border marketplaces such as Temu, Aliexpress and similar platforms has intensified in Moldova in the context of protecting the domestic market and competing with local retail.

Iute Group, a digital banking group operating in Southeast Europe, generated total revenue of EUR 124.6 million in 2025, while net profit increased to EUR 9.9 million. The Group’s consolidated balance sheet reached EUR 511 million, exceeding its annual target.

The United States may launch a military operation against Iran this weekend, but U.S. President Donald Trump has not yet ordered it, according to Logos Press.

In 2026, the real estate market in Sofia and the country’s major cities will be close to the “one buyer per object” format, according to Logos Press.

The Moldovan leu has appreciated by 0.59% over the last month and has gained a record 8.93% over the last 12 months, which indicates not only growing confidence in the national currency, Logos Press reported.

Cryptocurrencies started the shortened week in the U.S. on a downward trend, with bitcoin dipping below the $67,000 mark on Tuesday, breaking out of a narrow weekly range of $68,000-$70,000, according to Logos Press.