Hungary wage growth slows, investment volume declines

Wage growth for full-time workers in Hungary slowed to 9.0 percent year-on-year in March, data released by the Central Statistical Office (KSH) on Thursday show.

Wage growth slowed for the fourth month in a row.

In absolute terms, the average gross monthly wage stood at 400,400 forints (EUR 1,147). The average net wage was 266,300 forints.

Excluding the 76,900 Hungarians in fostered work programmes – who earned on average gross 83,100 forints in March – the average gross monthly wage in Hungary was 409,400 forints.

Investment volume in Hungary contracted by an annual 1.8 percent in the first quarter, the first decline since the end of 2016.

In absolute terms, investments came to 1,796.4 billion forints (EUR 5.1bn) during the period.

Construction investments rose by 2.8 percent, reaching 995.8 billion forints. Investments in machinery dropped by 7.0 percent and stood at 779.3 billion forints.