International Internet Magazine. Baltic States news & analytics
Saturday, 04.02.2012, 06:40
Industrial production output in Latvia grew by 8.9% in 2011
03.02.2012In 2011 industrial production output (1) (at current prices) comprised LVL 4759.2 million, in 4th quarter – LVL 1238.2 million, of which in December – LVL 395.3 million, according to the data of Central Statistical Bureau. Compared to 2010, industrial production volume in 2011 has grown by 8.9%, according to calendar adjusted data at constant prices.
Keyword tags: Analytics, Good for Business, Industry, Latvia, Markets and Companies
Lithuania registers EU's steepest annual increase in retail trade turnover in December
03.02.2012Retail trade turnover in Latvia in December 2011 increased by 7.1% from December 2010, which was the second largest increase across the European Union, according to the latest data from the EU's statistical office Eurostat. Lithuania registered the steepest annual increase in retail trade turnover in December – 13%; retail trade turnover in Estonia grew 6.1%.
Gasoline price in Baltic States were not among lowest in EU at end-January
03.02.2012At the end of January 2012, the retail price for 95 octane gas in Latvia was EUR 1,367.47 per 1,000 liters, including taxes, which is the eight lowest price in the European Union, according to the European Commission's data on fuel prices across the EU.
For a small Estonia on the periphery with Russia, being a member of the European core is very valuable
03.02.2012A little more than a year ago, Estonia adopted the euro – at a time when the Greek crisis, and the Irish, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian crises, were exposing the common currency’s weaknesses. Today, Estonia's economy is the fastest-growing in the currency bloc, consumers and businesses are paying lower interest rates, and business ties with Finland – a euro member state and Estonia's main trading partner – are tighter than ever, the Bloomberg Businessweek reports.
Latvia records EU's smallest reduction in producer prices in December
02.02.2012In December 2011, producer prices in Latvia decreased by 0.1%, compared to November, which was the smallest reduction across the European Union, according to the latest data from the EU's statistical office Eurostat.
E-census terminates with a record in Estonia
Today, at midnight of February 2, the e-census which had lasted for a month came to an end. According to preliminary data, in the e-census the Personal Questionnaires had been completed on record of 815,467 persons, which is over 62% of the estimated population of Estonia, the Statistics Estonia informs.
Demographer: Latvia first in Europe in terms of how little money the state spends on families
Presently Latvia is the number one country in Europe in terms of how little money the state spends on families with children, only 1% of the gross domestic product, compared to 2-3% in other countries, demographer Ilmars Mezs said in an interview on LNT television this morning.
Employers' Confederation: higher minimum monthly wage cannot serve as instrument to combat shadow economy in Latvia
It is necessary to consider increasing the minimum monthly wage, however, it will not serve as an instrument for combating shadow economy, Latvian Employers' Confederation Director General Liga Mengelsone points out in an interview with the Nozare.lv business portal.
In 2011 value growth in both the grocery and non-grocery channels grew slightly in Latvia
After the economic crisis in 2009, 2010 saw the first signs of Latvian economy stabilisation. However, retailing continued to post a weak performance. The crisis led to many people losing their jobs or facing salary cuts, which considerably impacted the overall purchasing power of the nation.
Statistics Estonia lengthens the e-census by 24 hours
Statistics Estonia lengthens the opportunity to participate in the e-census by 24 hours due to a big interest of the population in the e-census. People can participate online in the Population Census until 23:59 on 1 February.
Majority Lithuanian industrial companies not to reduce its employees
In January 2012, production expectations in Lithuania for the next months were a little more optimistic than in December. Fewer companies' leaders – 27% – expect production to decrease, 18% of companies' leaders think it is going to increase (in December – 30 and 17%, respectively).
Cargo turnover at Latvian ports grew by 12.5% in 2011, Riga Airport carried 4.4% more passengers
Cargo turnover at Latvian ports in the 4th quarter of 2011 comprised 17.8 million tons, which is 13.9% more than in the 4th quarter of 2010, according to the data of the Central Statistical Bureau. Altogether in 2011 the amount of loaded cargo at Latvian ports reached 68.8 million tons, which is 12.5% more than a year before. In the 4th quarter of 2011, passenger turnover at Riga International Airport comprised 1.1 million passengers – an increase of 4.4% as compared to the 4th quarter of 2010.
The europact: outcomes for the Baltic States
It was hardly any doubt that the agreement, called “financial compact”, would be accepted by the EU member states’ majority at the summit during last January days in 2012. A slight surprise was the Czech’s government decision to join the UK in opposing the drastic financial measures for the member states. There are however some lessons to learn for the Baltic States.
Lithuania – the cheapest country for accommodation in Q4
Hotel.info has released a price barometer for the fourth quarter of 2011 showing that Lithuania offered the cheapest accommodation in Europe during the period, travelbite.co.uk said.
Lithuania's construction input prices decrease by 0.2% in December
Construction input prices in Lithuania in December 2011, against November, decreased by 0.2%, Statistics Lithuania reports.
The europact: outcomes for the Baltic States 
