Left-wing and liberal analysts blame the government and the National Bank for the high price Hungarians are paying to regain the trust of the markets. A pro-government pundit is optimistic that Hungary can avoid recession – despite the global economic crisis. READ MORE
The weeklies were already on the stands when the Prime Minister announced that he had instructed his Finance Minister and asked the President of the National Bank to slash inflation by half next year. Business commentators already express concern over inflation rates that reached 20.1 per cent year on year in September. Online sites have already reacted to the Mr Orbán’s announcement. READ MORE
Analysts describe the biggest rate increase by the National Bank for 14 years as shocking but laudable – and predict further increases until September. READ MORE
György Surányi, who served as President of the National Bank under a socialist-liberal government in the 1990s, sees monetary and fiscal restrictions as necessary. A pro-government economist dismisses the suggestion and accuses Surányi of serving foreign interests. READ MORE
The leading independent online business news outlet doubts that the government’s decision to freeze mortgage interest rates will help to keep surging inflation at bay. READ MORE
A left-wing commentator fears that the government’s spending policies will further fuel already rampant inflation. A pro-government analyst quotes two independent analyses to justify his confidence that Hungarian growth will skyrocket. READ MORE
A financial analyst admits that the issuing bank is taking inflation more seriously than so far but is only cautiously optimistic about the success of the moderate shift in the National Bank’s monetary policy. READ MORE
An independent economist welcomes the National Bank’s base interest rate hikes and the announcement of incremental tapering. He believes that returning to more orthodox monetary measures will help Hungary prepare for future financial turmoil. READ MORE
A left-wing commentator disagrees with the National Bank governor, who does not consider as timely the adoption of the common European currency. A conservative economist remarks that Hungary cannot in any case rapidly introduce the Euro – thanks to the previous Socialist-Liberal governments. READ MORE
Commenting on the rate hike announced by the National Bank on Tuesday, a left-wing columnist interprets National Bank President Matolcsy’s criticism of overspending as a declaration of war on the government. READ MORE