Hungary: Economic sentiment rises notably in August
The GKI economic sentiment index, a composite indicator, shot up to 4.0 points in August after falling to 0.6 points in July. August’s print reflected a rise in both business sentiment and consumer confidence.
Business confidence jumped to 7.5 points in August from 4.3 points in July. Expectations in the industrial and services sector improved, while confidence in the in the construction sector slid to a two-year low and also continued to deteriorate in the trade sector.
Meanwhile, consumer confidence climbed to minus 5.9 points in August from minus 10.1 points in July. Households were more optimistic about their future personal financial situation and savings ability compared to a month ago. Moreover, consumers expressed greater willingness to purchase big-ticket items.