Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski responded today to opposition criticism regarding Eurostat’s latest report on the purchasing power of citizens in European countries.

“Regarding Eurostat’s report on purchasing power, several messages have emerged in recent days from the opposition, as well as from some media outlets that share its position. A superficial campaign was launched, which was once again disproved by the facts. I believe the opposition and some of the media will be disappointed again, because Macedonia is not ranked as the worst-performing country. On the contrary, it is doing better than several European Union countries and, in terms of citizens’ purchasing power, is ahead of every country in the region,” Mickoski said.

He said the difference compared with the situation three or four years ago is also evident from his personal experience. However, the prime minister acknowledged that the results achieved are still not sufficient, stressing that the government will continue working to improve living standards and advance the country’s development.

“A comparison with data from three or four years ago shows considerable progress. But is that enough? No. Will we work toward better results and greater progress? Absolutely; we are more motivated than ever. While they continue to stir up hysteria based on fabrications and lies, we will continue working without pause, as we have done over these 25 months, for the country and its citizens,” Prime Minister Mickoski concluded.

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He stressed that during the first quarter of 2026, Gross Domestic Product recorded real growth of 3.1%, while unemployment stood at 11.3%. In April, the average net salary reached 48,779 denars.

Baush said these figures demonstrate growth in both economic activity and wages. However, he noted that any increase should be determined carefully, as small and medium-sized enterprises account for around 73% of employment and do not all have the same financial capacity.

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In May 2026, total industrial turnover was 0.8 per cent higher than in the same month a year earlier. Compared with April this year, however, industrial activity declined by 0.6 per cent. For the January-May 2026 period, cumulative growth was just 0.3 per cent compared with the first five months of 2025.

Significant differences were recorded among product categories. Capital goods made the largest contribution to growth, with turnover rising by 5.3 per cent. This category is generally linked to machinery and equipment for investment, meaning the result may signal increased activity in industrial investment.

Most other groups recorded declines. Turnover in intermediate goods, excluding energy, fell by 0.7 per cent. Durable consumer goods declined by 6.9 per cent, while non-durable consumer goods saw a decrease of 3.5 per cent. These figures show that the positive result was supported by a limited number of activities, while the rest of industry continues to face obstacles.

The results also vary by market. In the domestic market, industrial turnover in May was 1.8 per cent lower than in May last year, reflecting weaker demand within the country. By contrast, turnover in foreign markets increased by 1.8 per cent, keeping exports among the main factors sustaining the industry’s positive result.

The same trend is evident in the first five months of the year. Turnover in the domestic market rose by 1.2 per cent, while growth in foreign markets was only 0.2 per cent. This suggests that, despite the support provided by exports in May, growth momentum throughout the year remains limited.

The overall result was significantly influenced by the manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products, which grew by 5.1 per cent; the manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment, which rose by 1.5 per cent; and the manufacture of machinery and equipment, where growth reached 18.8 per cent. The statistics show a wide gap between industrial branches: some recorded double-digit growth, while other sectors registered significant declines.

Although industry remained in positive territory, growth of 0.8 per cent remains minimal. Weak domestic demand continues to be one of the main challenges, while reliance on exports indicates that the sector has not yet entered a phase of sustainable expansion. (koha.mk)

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During a working meeting held at the Economic Chamber, Risteski made an important clarification for the media, once again emphasizing the fundamental difference between the two concepts. He insisted that the average consumer basket should not be confused or equated with the minimum consumer basket.

“I am reiterating for the seventh time that the average consumer basket does not represent the same thing as the minimum consumer basket, which is essentially not minimal and is made public by trade unions based on their internal parameters,” he explained.

The deputy minister further emphasized the practical significance of this new instrument, explaining that it will serve as a solid foundation for formulating sound economic policies. According to him, this basket will enable the adoption of well-founded laws, decisions, and measures, which are based on carefully and professionally analyzed statistical data.

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Ivan Peshevski of the Construction, Industry and Design Trade Union says that between 50 and 58 per cent of workers earn up to 36,900 denars per month—meaning the minimum wage or an amount close to it.

According to him, these figures show that the vast majority of workers fall into the lowest-income categories. He stresses that this is directly reflected in their standard of living and their ability to secure a dignified life from their wages.

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The latest data from the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia (NBRM) show that total online payments, excluding electronic money transactions, reached 16,355.96 million denars, or €265.95 million, in the first three months of 2026. This represents an 18.1% increase compared with the same period last year. The figure includes digital purchases by Macedonian citizens from e-commerce merchants both within and outside the country, as well as purchases by foreign consumers from online retailers in North Macedonia.

More specifically, domestic online sales businesses processed payments worth 9,608.64 million denars, equivalent to €156.24 million, during the quarter, marking a 16.5% increase compared with the previous year. Domestic cardholders contributed 8,617.27 million denars (€140.12 million), or 15% more than before, while international buyers spent 991.37 million denars, around €16.2 million, reflecting an impressive 32.5% jump. These figures highlight the growing ability of Macedonian online stores to attract customers from other countries.

Meanwhile, citizens of the country continue to be active shoppers on foreign retail websites, with transactions reaching 6,747.31 million denars, equivalent to €109.71 million, marking a 20.3% increase from the same period last year./Telegrafi/

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During the past year, apartment prices rose by more than 19.5 percent in the first two quarters, while in the second two quarters, the annual increase in real estate prices exceeded 25 percent.

The apartment price index, which covers only the territory of the city of Skopje and is calculated on the basis of the sale prices of advertised apartments, but not completed sales, recorded an increase in the second quarter of 2026.

Data from the Real Estate Cadastre Agency show that in the first quarter of this year there was a decline in the number of transactions in the real estate market. Compared with the last quarter of last year, in the January-March 2026 period the number of apartments sold fell by 27 percent, while their total financial value dropped by 23 percent.

The number of houses sold also decreased by 23 percent. At the same time, sales of agricultural land and forests fell by 8 percent on a quarterly basis, while the sale of commercial premises declined by 11 percent.

Although construction continues and real estate prices are rising, a paradoxical phenomenon is being observed on the ground: more and more apartments in Skopje remain unoccupied. While the price per square meter is reaching record levels, some of the new dwellings are being used neither for housing nor for rent.

According to experts, this is linked to several factors, including the purchase of apartments as a form of investment, or “keeping money in concrete,” expectations of further price increases, high rents that drive away tenants, as well as uncertainty over long-term renting. Under these circumstances, many owners choose not to rent out their properties at all.

In May, household loans recorded monthly growth of 1.3% and annual growth of 12.0%, driven by the expansion of lending in both denars and foreign currency, with the greater impact coming from loans denominated in denars.

According to the purpose of loans approved to individuals, in May the two most common categories, consumer loans and housing loans, posted monthly growth of 1.1% and 1.4% respectively, while the annual growth rates were 11.2% and 16.3%.

In the past six years, from May 2020 to May 2026, housing loans have more than doubled, from 52,959 million denars to 116.017 million denars, or from more than 800 million euros to nearly 2 billion euros. (koha.mk)

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According to him, the country is going through an extremely difficult period. He stressed that there are currently two wars underway, which he described as serious. Mickoski added that, based on the latest information he has received, the war in the Persian Gulf is beginning to escalate again, while the war in Ukraine is also continuing. In this situation, he said, the main challenge remains ensuring timely and sufficient energy supplies for citizens and businesses.

Mickoski also said that, statistically, the country has the lowest fuel prices. He acknowledged that there may be voices linking this to wage levels and the price of petrol and diesel, but underlined that this is a stock market product. According to him, this depends neither on business logic nor on government policies, since it is a product of the stock market, where everyone is supplied from the same share market. He added that what is essential is how the situation is managed from that moment until it is used by citizens, stressing that this has been the case for decades.

Speaking about political opponents, he said he would leave that question to those who, according to him, continue to live in a political swamp, such as the opposition and certain structures that in Bitola try to shape public opinion through audiences. He added that, when they are given the opportunity to do something, unfortunately they not only fail to act, but also move backward. For this reason, according to Mickoski, they will always remain political marginals.

As for inflation, Mickoski said it is one of the segments that emerges in such challenging periods. He stressed that in June the country achieved the lowest inflation level compared with all the countries in the region. He also said he was particularly satisfied that food inflation is around 2.5%, for shoes and clothing around 2.1%, that is, below 3%. On the other hand, he clarified that tobacco, tobacco products and alcohol, as well as transport services due to high fuel prices, contribute up to 3.4%, Mickoski said.

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As announced by the State Statistical Office, compared with May last year, in May of this year the electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply sector posted growth of 6.1 percent. Meanwhile, mining and quarrying recorded growth of 3.6 percent, while manufacturing registered a decline of 2.6 percent.

In the decline in industrial production in May 2026, compared with May 2025, the biggest impact came from reduced activity in these departments: manufacture of electrical equipment by 7.8 percent, manufacture of machinery and equipment not elsewhere specified by 12.9 percent, as well as manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers by 2.3 percent.

The manufacturing sector declined mainly as a result of reduced production in these branches:

– Manufacture of food products, – Manufacture of beverages,

– Manufacture of tobacco products, – Manufacture of textiles,

– Manufacture of wearing apparel, – Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products,

– Manufacture of basic pharmaceutical products and pharmaceutical preparations,

– Manufacture of metals, – Manufacture of fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment,

– Manufacture of electrical equipment, – Manufacture of machinery and equipment not included or specified elsewhere, and – Manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers.

According to the main industrial groupings, in May 2026 compared with May 2025, growth was recorded in Energy by 6.5 percent and Intermediate goods, except energy by 3.4 percent. On the other hand, declines were recorded in Capital goods by 3.3 percent, Durable consumer goods by 1.1 percent, and Non-durable consumer goods by 8.4 percent.

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