Prague, 23 November 1998 (RFE/RL) -- A leading global economic information and consulting firm has released updated macroeconomic data on former Soviet republics and Eastern European countries.
WEFA, a U.S. based company that provides information to global financial firms, bases the surveys on reports from official national statistical agencies as well as multi-national institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The firm also has a staff of more than 200 economists and researchers who correct the official economic indicators for anomalies. WEFA's clients use the data to guide their decisions on investments and possible business ventures.
The following is a country-by-country breakdown on some key economic indicators issued this week by WEFA. All numbers are positive unless otherwise indicated (by word 'minus').
RUSSIA
Change in real GDP (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) minus 3.0 percent.
Change in industrial production (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) minus 3.9 percent.
Change in capital investment (Jan-June 1998 from Jan-June 1997) minus 4.3 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec. 1997 to Sept 1998) 49.6 percent, or a monthly average of about 4.6 percent.
Registered unemployment rate (Sept 1998) 11.5 percent.
Total exports (Jan-Sept 1998) $54.7 billion.
Total imports (Jan-Sept 1998) $50 billion.
Trade balance (Jan-Sept 1998) $4.7 billion.
Refinance rate (since July 31, 1998) 60 percent.
Exchange rate (Nov 13, 1998) 18.11 rubles per dollar.
External debt (July 1998): $141 billion.
Gross gold and hardcurrency reserves (Oct 1998) $13.6 billion.
UKRAINE
Change in real GDP (Jan-Aug 1998 from Jan-Aug 1997) 0.2 percent.
Change in industrial production (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) minus 0.3 percent.
Change in capital investment (Jan-June 1998 from Jan-June 1997) 8.5 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec 1997 to Oct 1998) 12.9 percent, or a monthly average of about 1.2 percent.
Registered unemployment rate (Sept 1998) 3.2 percent.
Total exports (Jan-Aug 1998) $8.2 billion.
Total imports (Jan-Aug 1998) $9.7 billion.
Trade balance (Jan-Aug 1998) minus $1.5 billion.
National Bank refinance rate (since July 10, 1998) 82 percent.
Exchange rate (Nov 13, 1998) 3.427 hryvnya per dollar.
Foreign currency reserves (early Sept 1998) $875 million.
BELARUS
Change in real GDP (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) 10 percent.
Change in industrial production (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) 10.8 percent.
Change in capital investment (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) 25.3 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec 1997 to Sept 1998) 53.1 percent, or a monthly average of about 4.8 percent.
Registered unemployment rate (Sept 1998) 2.3 percent.
Total exports (Jan-Aug 1998) $4.802 billion.
Total imports (Jan-Aug 1998) $5.894 billion.
Trade balance (Jan-Aug 1998) minus $1.092 billion.
Refinance rate (since Aug 1, 1998) 38 percent.
Official exchange rate (Nov 13, 1998) 63,000 Belarusian rubles per dollar.
Hard currency reserves (Aug 1998) $292 million.
External debt (April 1998) $991 million.
ESTONIA
Change in real GDP (Jan-June 1998 from Jan-June 1997) 7.4 percent.
Change in industrial production (Jan-June 1998 from Jan-June 1997) 8 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec. 1997 to Oct 1998) 6.7 percent, or a monthly average of about 0.6 percent.
Registered unemployment rate (Aug 1998) 3.3 percent.
Total exports (Jan-Sept 1998) $2.358 billion.
Total imports (Jan-Sept 1998) $3.616 billion.
Trade balance (Jan-Sept 1998) minus $1.258 billion.
Exchange rate (Nov 13, 1998) 13.4676 kroons per dollar.
Interest rate on short-term loans (July 1998) 16 percent.
External debt (June 1998) $262 million.
Foreign currency reserves (Aug 1998) $828 million.
LITHUANIA
Change in real GDP (Jan-June 1998 from Jan-June 1997) 7.3 percent.
Change in industrial production (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) 8 percent.
Change in capital investments (Jan-June 1998 from Jan-June 1997) 12.5 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec. 1997 to Oct 1998) 2.1 percent, or a monthly average of about 0.2 percent.
Unemployment rate (Oct 1998) 6 percent.
Total exports (Jan-Aug 1998) $2.656 billion.
Total imports (Jan-Aug 1998) $4.033 billion.
Trade balance (Jan-Aug 1998) minus $1.377 billion.
Exchange rate (Nov 13, 1998) 4 litas per dollar.
Interest rate on short-term loans (July 1998) 10.9 percent.
External debt (through Sept 1998) $1.546 billion.
Official gold and foreign currency reserves (Oct 1998) $1.491 billion.
LATVIA
Change in real GDP (Jan-June 1998 from Jan-June 1997) 6.4 percent.
Change in industrial production (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) 5.1 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec. 1997 to Oct 1998) 2.2 percent, or a monthly average of about 0.2 percent.
Unemployment rate (Sept 1998) 7.6 percent.
Total exports (Jan-Aug 1998) $1.231 billion.
Total imports (Jan-Aug 1998) $2.067 billion.
Trade balance (Jan-Aug 1998) minus $836 million.
Exchange rate (Nov 13, 1998) 0.575 lats per dollar.
National bank refinance rate (since April 1997) 4 percent.
External debt (Oct 1998) $397 million.
Gold and foreign currency reserves (Sept 1998) $1.011 billion.
AZERBAIJAN
Change in real GDP (Jan-Aug 1998 from Jan-Aug 1997) 9.2 percent.
Change in industrial production (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) 1.1 percent.
Change in capital investment (Jan-March 1998 from Jan-March 1997) 62 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec. 1997 to Sept 1998) minus 1.1 percent, or a monthly average of about minus 0.1 percent.
Registered unemployment rate (year end 1997) 1.3 percent.
Total exports (Jan-May 1998) $209 million.
Total imports (Jan-May 1998) $377 million.
Trade balance (Jan-May 1998) minus $167 million.
Exchange rate (Nov 13, 1998) 3,861 manats per dollar.
External debt (June 1998) $579 million.
GEORGIA
Change in real GDP (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) 7.3 percent.
Change in industrial production (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) minus 1.2 percent.
Change in capital investment (J1997 from 1996) 87 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec. 1997 to Sept 1998) minus 3.3 percent, or a monthly average of about minus 0.4 percent.
Total exports (1997) $230 million.
Total imports (1997) $931 million.
Trade balance (1997) minus $701 million.
Exchange rate (Nov 13, 1998) 1.44 lari per dollar.
External debt (year end 1997) $1.5 billion.
ARMENIA
Change in real GDP (Jan-July 1998 from Jan-July 1997) 8.7 percent.
Change in industrial production (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) 0.6 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec. 1997 to May 1998) 4.1 percent, or a monthly average of about 0.8 percent. Unemployment rate (June 1998) 8.3 percent.
Total exports (Jan-June 1998) $120 million.
Total imports (Jan-June 1998) $407 million.
Trade balance (Jan-June 1998) minus $288 million.
Exchange rate (Nov 13, 1998) 516.04 drams per dollar.
External debt (year end 1997) $668.5 million.
Gold and foreign exchange reserves (Aug 1998) $328 million.
KAZAKHSTAN
Change in real GDP (Jan-July 1998 from Jan-July 1997) 1.7 percent.
Change in industrial production (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) minus 1.2 percent.
Change in capital investment (Jan-March 1998 from Jan-March 1997) 44 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec 1997 to Oct 1998) 1.6 percent, or a monthly average of about 0.2 percent.
Registered unemployment rate (Sept 1998) 3.8 percent.
Total exports (Jan-Aug 1998) $4.22 billion.
Total imports (Jan-Aug 1998) $5.184 billion.
Trade balance (Jan-Aug 1998) minus $963 million.
National Bank rediscount rate (since Aug 1, 1998) 20.5 percent.
Exchange rate (Nov 13, 1998) 82 tenge per dollar.
Hard currency reserves (Sept 1998) $1.7 billion.
External debt (March 1998) $6.1 billion.
TAJIKISTAN
Change in real GDP (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) 6.5 percent.
Change in industrial production (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) 8.7 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec. 1997 to Sept 1998) minus 8.3 percent, or a monthly average of minus 1.0 percent.
Registered unemployment rate (Aug 1998): 3.4 percent.
Total exports (Jan -Sept 1998) $421 million.
Total imports (Jan-Sept 1998) $592 million.
Trade balance (Jan-Sept 1998) minus $171 million.
Exchange rate (Nov 13, 1998) 754 Tajik rubles per dollar.
TURKMENISTAN
Change in real GDP (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) 4.0 percent.
Change in industrial production (1997 from 1996) minus 20 percent.
Change in fixed investment (Jan-March 1998 from Jan-March 1997) 10 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec. 1997 to July 1998) 1.1 percent, or a monthly average of about 0.2 percent.
Total exports (Jan-June 1998) $258 million.
Total imports (Jan-June 1998) $528 million.
Trade balance (Jan-June 1998) minus $270 million.
Exchange rate (Nov 13, 1998) 5,200 manats per dollar.
Refinance rate (since June 17, 1998) 47 percent.
External debt (year end 1996) $882 million.
UZBEKISTAN
Change in real GDP (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) 4.4 percent.
Change in industrial production (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) 6.1 percent.
Change in capital investment (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) 13.1 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec. 1997 to June 1998) 9.3 percent, or a monthly average of about 1.5 percent.
Total exports (Jan-June 1998) $1.824 billion.
Total imports (Jan-June 1998) $1.621 billion.
Trade balance (Jan-June 1998) $203 million.
Exchange rate (Nov 13, 1998) 107.71 sums per dollar.
Gold and foreign exchange reserves (year end 1996) $1.5 billion.
KYRGYZSTAN
Change in real GDP (Jan-Aug 1998 from Jan-Aug 1997) 4.5 percent.
Change in industrial production (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) 9.7 percent.
Change in capital investment (Jan-March 1998 from Jan-March 1997) 21 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec. 1997 to Sept 1998) 5.7 percent, or a monthly average of about 0.6 percent.
Registered unemployment rate (Sept 1998) 3.2 percent.
Total exports (Jan-July 1998) $298 million.
Total imports (Jan-July 1998) $458 million.
Trade balance (Jan-July 1998) minus $161 million.
Exchange rate (Nov 13, 1998) 24.7763 soms per dollar.
External debt (Oct 1997) $766.5 million.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Change in real GDP (Jan-June 1998 from Jan-June 1997) minus 1.7 percent.
Change in industrial production (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) 5 percent.
Change in household construction (Jan-June 1998 from Jan-June 1997) minus 4.5 percent.
Change in capital investment (Jan-June 1998 from Jan-June 1997) minus 6.3 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec. 1997 to Oct 1998) 7.1 percent, or a monthly average of about 0.7 percent.
Unemployment rate (Oct 1998) 6.8 percent.
Exports (Jan-Aug 1998) $16.962 billion.
Imports (Jan-Aug 1998) $18.334 billion.
Trade balance (Jan-Aug 1998) minus $1.372 billion.
Current account balance (Jan-June 1998) minus $453.5 million.
Exchange rate (Nov 6, 1998) 29.172 Czech crowns per dollar.
National bank's foreign exchange reserves (Oct 1998) $12.696 billion.
SLOVAKIA
Change in real GDP (Jan-June 1998 from Jan-June 1997) 6.1 percent.
Change in industrial production (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) 6.2 percent.
Change in capital investment (Jan-June 1998 from Jan-June 1997) 10.6 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec. 1997 to Oct 1998) 4.9 percent, or a monthly average of about 0.5 percent.
Unemployment rate (Sept 1998) 13.76 percent.
Current account balance (Jan-May 1998) minus $.9 billion.
Exchange rate (Nov 6, 1998) 35.513 Slovak crowns per dollar.
National bank's foreign exchange reserves (Nov. 4, 1998) $2.980 billion.
Gross external debt (July 1998) $11.890 billion.
BULGARIA
Change in real GDP (Jan-June 1998 from Jan-June 1997) 11.9 percent.
Change in industrial sales (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) minus 6.7 percent.
Change in retail sales (Jan-July 1998 from Jan-July 1997) 7.9 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec. 1997 to Sept 1998) 2.9 percent, or a monthly average of about 0.3 percent.
Unemployment rate (Aug 1998) 10.8 percent.
Balance on government budget (Jan-Oct 1998) 492,000 million levs.
Exports (Jan-June 1998) $2.192 billion.
Imports (Jan-June 1998) $2.165 billion.
Trade balance (Jan-June 1998) $27 million.
Current account balance (Jan-June 1998) $28 million.
Exchange rate (Nov 6, 1998) 1,653 levs per dollar.
ROMANIA
Change in real GDP (Jan-June 1998 from Jan-June 1997) minus 5.2 percent.
Gross Domestic Product (1997) $34.8 billion dollars.
Per capita GDP (1997) $1,544.
Change in industrial production (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) minus 17 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec. 1997 to Sept 1998) 30 percent, or a monthly average of about 3 percent.
Unemployment rate (Sept 1998) 8.7 percent.
Exports (Jan-Aug 1998) $5.479 billion.
Imports (Jan-Aug 1998) $6.914 billion.
Trade balance (Jan-Aug 1998) minus $1.435 million.
Exchange rate (Nov 13, 1998) 9,920 lei per dollar.
MOLDOVA
Change in real GDP (Jan-June 1998 from Jan-June 1997) minus 5 percent.
Change in industrial production (Jan-Sept 1998 from Jan-Sept 1997) minus 5.7 percent.
Change in capital investment (1997 from 1996) minus 6 percent.
Change in consumer prices (Dec. 1997 to Sept 1998) minus 0.5 percent, or a monthly average of about minus 0.1 percent.
Registered unemployment rate (March 1998) 2.3 percent.
Total exports (Jan-Aug 1998) $467 million.
Total imports (Jan-Aug 1998) $764 million.
Trade balance (Jan-Aug 1998) minus $297 million.
National bank refinance rate (since February 1998) 21 percent.
Exchange rate (Nov 13, 1998) 7.2878 lei per dollar.
External debt (April 1998) $1.3 billion.
Hard currency reserves of national bank (June 1998) $287 million.
SLOVENIA
Change in real GDP (Jan-June 1998 from Jan-June 1997) 4.8 percent.
Gross Domestic Product (1997) $17.2 billion.
Per capita GDP (1997) $9,043.
Change in consumer prices (Dec. 1997 to Oct 1998) 5.5 percent, or a monthly average of about 0.5 percent.
Unemployment rate (Aug 1998) 14.2 percent.
Exports (Jan-Sept 1998) $6.58 billion.
Imports (Jan-Sept 1998) $7.313 billion.
Trade balance (Jan-Sept 1998) minus $733 billion.
Current account balance (Jan-Aug 1998) minus $2.4 billion.
Exchange rate (Nov. 13, 1998) 1661.785 tolars per dollar.
Bank of Slovenia foreign exchange reserves (Aug 1998) $3.57 billion.
