society

According to the October 2025 survey of Századvég Konjunktúrakutató, households’ economic expectations continued to improve slightly (+0.5 index points), while companies’ economic sentiment strengthened significantly (+3.7 index points) from the previous month. Thus, the household index, measured on a scale of -100 to +100, improved to -12.6, while the business index to -10.9. The October survey found that the biggest positive shift among households was in plans for future higher-value spending, while among companies, the strongest positive change was in the general economic sentiment.

The majority of EU citizens find it unacceptable that Brussels is steering the EU away from its dependence on Russian natural gas towards a more expensive dependence on American gas. Rejection of the transition is highest in Hungary and Bulgaria, at 73%.

Sweden, once a “model humanitarian state”, has now become a victim of its own migration policy: one-third of the population is no longer ethnically Swedish, the country has 59 no-go zones, and, after Albania, it has the highest number of gang-related deaths in Europe. In 2023, the Swedish government was forced to radically change its policy, reducing the number of asylum seekers from 163,000 to 9,000, while offering USD 34,000 in support to those who voluntarily return home.

Macro Monitor - August 2025

Tisza included Brussels’ goal of banning Russian energy in its programme. The measure would impose heavy costs on all Hungarians, and is therefore rejected by two-thirds of adults. However, the ban divides political camps: while 59% of Tisza voters support it, 96% of Fidesz-KDNP voters reject the move.

According to the September 2025 survey of Századvég Konjunktúrakutató, household economic expectations improved significantly (+2.1 index points), while business economic sentiment also strengthened (+0.5 index points) from the previous month. Thus, the household index, measured on a scale of -100 to +100, improved to -13.1, while the business index to -14.6. The September survey found that the most significant positive change for households was an improvement in inflation expectations, while for companies it was a strengthening of investment intentions.

Tisza’s austerity package would cause serious livelihood problems. The party’s measures would radically reduce household incomes while increasing their costs. The average Hungarian’s net income would fall from HUF 475,000 per month to HUF 346,000, i.e. by HUF 129,000.

It has been leaked that if Tisza were to win the election, they would impose severe austerity measures. The party would raise personal income taxes, abolish tax breaks, and ban Russian energy sources. The majority of Hungarians reject all elements of the Tisza package, a survey by Századvég found.

Péter Magyar would deliver on Brussels’ expectations and cut off Hungary from Russian energy sources. The ban would increase the annual electricity and gas bills of an average Hungarian family by HUF 510,000, and those of low-income families by HUF 540,000. More than a million households would not be able to afford it.

Macro Monitor - July 2025

In 2025, the UK once again became Europe’s top migration destination, creating a crisis that compounded the Labour government’s poor performance on security and the economy. Following a discussion of the latest statistics on the rise in illegal immigration, we present the causes, the measures being taken to address them and their likely impact on both the UK and Europe.

The Tisza Party has adopted Brussels’ objective of banning Russian energy sources into its programme. The measure would have serious consequences: Hungary could buy less oil, which would raise the price of petrol to 1,026 forints per litre and diesel to 1,051 forints, according to an estimate by Századvég.

Péter Magyar announced that he would ban Russian oil and gas from Hungary, as requested by Brussels. The measure would increase Hungarian families’ electricity and gas bills by three and a half times the current level. The increase in utility costs would mean an extra cost of more than half a million forints per year for an average household.

According to the August 2025 survey of Századvég Konjunktúrakutató, household economic expectations improved significantly (+4.0 index points), while business economic sentiment also strengthened (+1.4 index points) from the previous month. Thus, the household index, measured on a scale of -100 to +100, improved to -15.2, while the business index to -15.1. The August survey found that the most notable positive change for households was an improvement in their economic sentiment, while for companies it was improved expectations regarding the future of the EUR/HUF exchange rate.

Macro Monitor - June 2025

Instead of the unanimity required for Ukraine’s accession to the EU, public opinion in 11 EU Member States opposes the belligerent country’s accelerated accession. The majority of the population in several neighbouring and surrounding countries (Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic) as well as in Germany and France, the two most populous Member States of the European Union, do not support Ukraine’s accession to the European Union as soon as possible, according to the latest results of Századvég’s 2025 Project Europe survey.

Macro Monitor - May 2025

The latest results of Századvég’s Project Europe survey show that, while Brussels decision-makers continue their policy of distancing themselves from China in the shadow of the US-China trade war, more than 50% of people in all EU Member States believe that the European Union should strive for peaceful economic cooperation with both the United States and China.

80% of European citizens believe the continent is stagnating or declining. The pessimistic attitude can best be explained by the growing cost-of-living crisis: one in three EU citizens has trouble making ends meet, and almost half would be unable to cover a large, unexpected expense. There are significant differences between Member States: while in Greece and Latvia, the relative majority struggles to make ends meet, in the Netherlands and Hungary, three quarters of the population are able to live on their income.