With Ukraine’s GDP expected to hit $150bn this year, the nation is on track to record 60% cumulative GDP growth since 2016, when it was $93.4bn. Over the last four years, the hryvnia dollar ... more
Ukraine GDP rose 2.5% in 1Q19, updated stats show. The economy continues to underperform. Following the 15% contraction in 2016 the economy should be bouncing back more vigorously than it is but the ... more
The June 23 Istanbul revote has delivered an earthquake in Turkish politics—Ekrem Imamoglu, candidate for the main opposition party, has recorded a stunning victory over the candidate backed by ... more
Signatories of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) “must comply with the terms of the agreement to the same extent as Tehran does”, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on July 3, ... more
Russia’s economy is off to a very weak start in the first quarter. Russian GDP growth slowed to 0.2% in May from a revised rate of 1.7% in the previous month, the Russian Economy Ministry said on ... more
Georgia, the small South Caucasus country of 3.9mn, expanded by 5.1% y/y in April compared to the 4.7% average seen in Q1 2019, preliminary estimates from the country’s statistical office show. ... more
Istanbul revote will be held on June 23. Whatever result the Istanbul revote delivers, there have to be expectations that a snap general election can be expected not too far ahead. Imamoglu, ... more
Iran is facing a perfect storm involving a severe currency devaluation amid tightening sanctions levied by the US and stagnating wages. Many Iranians have cut down to essential purchases only, but ... more
Georgia, the small South Caucasus country of 3.9mn, expanded by 4.7% y/y in Q1 2019 after strengthening to 6.0% y/y in March alone, preliminary estimates from the country’s statistical office show. ... more
Things are moving fast in Ukraine but actually any changes are on hold until after the elections for a new parliament are complete in July. Despite being a neophyte Ukrainian president Volodymyr ... more
Preliminary Rosstat figures show Russian GDP growth in the first three months of the year was just 0.5% y/y, a figure clearly lower than anticipated by most forecasts. Russia’s economy is ... more
Iran’s economy is expected to shrink for a second consecutive year in 2019 while the country’s consumer price index (CPI) inflation could hit 50%, the International Monetary Fund said on April ... more
Ukraine starts a new chapter following the landslide victory for Ukraine’s president-elect Volodymyr Zelenskiy in the presidential election on April 21, but whether it will lead to a new beginning ... more
Georgia, the small South Caucasus country of 3.9mn, expanded by 4.7% y/y in Q1 2019 after strengthening to 6.0% y/y in March alone, preliminary estimates from the country’s statistical office show. ... more
The Belarusian government forecasts the nation's GDP growth at 2.1% year-on-year in 2019, 2.5% y/yin 2020, and 2.8% y/y in 2021, according to the cabinet's medium-term fiscal programme for 2019-2021 ... more
The month of March was taken up with campaigning for the presidential elections to be held on March 31, which were far to close to call but will almost certainly end with a run off to be held in ... more
While Rosstat’s 2.3% initial estimate for Russian 2018 GDP growth clearly exceeded expectations, the latest BOFIT Forecast for Russia 2019–2021 sees growth slowing this year. Lower growth in ... more
US State Department officials have warned that more sanctions targeted at Iran are on the way. The officials addressed a meeting on “Sanctions: A Key Foreign Policy Tool” held at the department ... more
Georgia, the small South Caucasus country of 3.9mn, expanded by 4.8% y/y in Q4 from Q3’s 3.7% y/y, meaning the country expanded by 4.8% y/y in 2018 overall. That compares to 2017’s 5% advance and ... more
The National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) reviewed downwards the assessment of growth of real GDP of the country in 2018 to 3.3% from 3.4%, but the change is unimportant as Ukraine continues to grow well ... more