Expert: Trump’s decisions have nothing to do with the midterm elections
Even if Russian diesel were to enter the US market, the volume would be less than what the country consumes in a single day—a mere drop in the ocean.
Source: Baltic News Network
🇱🇻 Latvia: market & economy news today
The latest market, economy, central-bank, policy and company stories from Latvia, updated every 15 minutes. Last updated 19 October 2026.
Latvia investor snapshot
| GDP growth (2025) | 2.1% | Moderate growth. |
| Inflation (2025) | 3.7% | Above the usual central-bank targets. |
| Unemployment (2025) | 6.6% | Moderate. |
| GDP per person (2025) | $26,312 | Average output per person: a rough measure of how wealthy a country is. |
| Current account (2025) | -3.4% of GDP | Deficit: spends more abroad than it earns, so it relies on foreign money. |
| Exports (2025) | 62.6% of GDP | Very trade-dependent: sensitive to tariffs and global demand. |
Latest official annual figures from World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0). Context, not a forecast or financial advice.
Latest stories
Tax debts in Latvia reach 811 million euros – how much can the state no longer recover?
Latvia’s outstanding tax debts reached 811.7 million euros in October 2026, with 307.1 million euros classified as effectively unrecoverable.
Source: Baltic News Network
Election results confirmed in Latvia
At its meeting on Friday, the Central Election Commission (CEC) confirmed the official results of the 15th Saeima elections and the list of elected MPs.
Source: LSM
Why did people vote (or not) in the recent Latvian elections?
The Saeima elections of October 3rd were flagged up in advance as the most important for a long time – but in the end only the narrowest majority of the electorate bothered to vote: 51%.
Source: LSM
Latvian tax authority freezes Amber Latvijas balzams bank accounts again
Following prolonged negotiations over the outstanding excise tax liabilities, the State Revenue Service froze the company’s bank accounts.
Source: Baltic News Network
'Latvijas balzams' accounts frozen again
Following the closure of the legal protection proceedings against the drinks manufacturer ‘Amber Latvijas balzams’, the State Revenue Service (VID) has once again frozen the company’s accounts, according to a statement issued by the company to the ‘Nasdaq Riga’ stock exchange.
Source: LSM
Latvia forecast to record second-fastest economic growth in the Baltics this year
The IMF forecasts the strongest economic growth among the Baltic states in Lithuania, where gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to increase by 2.7% in 2026, followed by growth of 2.1% in 2027.
Source: Baltic News Network
airBaltic losses soar to 128.2 million euros despite rising revenue and passenger numbers
The airline’s average passenger load factor in the first half of 2026 was 77.3%, one percentage point lower than in the corresponding period of 2025.
Source: Baltic News Network
Annual inflation in Latvia at 3.2% in September
Central Statistical Bureau data, published on 8 October, show that compared with September 2025, the average level of consumer prices rose by 3.2 % in September 2026.
Source: LSM
Quarter of postal votes deemed invalid in Latvia
In the recent 15th Saeima elections, out of the 444 postal votes received by the Latvian Postal Voting Commission, 118 were deemed invalid, the Central Election Commission (CVK) told the LETA news agency.
Source: LSM
Latvian film industry annoyed by Kulbergs' 'streaming tax' U-turn
The film and culture industry is expressing confusion over Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' (United List) announcement that the government should consider abandoning the planned streaming platform, or so-called "Netflix" tax, and instead focus more on supporting the development of the film industry.
Source: LSM
New Unity faces some post-election soul searching
The New Unity political party (Jauna Vienotība/JV) is not satisfied with its results in the recent Saeima elections and plans to evaluate them at an extraordinary congress, party chair and former Prime Minister Evika Siliņa told LTV's 'Morning Panorama' show on October 7th.
Source: LSM
airBaltic faces mass layoffs as up to 700 jobs could be cut
According to current forecasts, the changes could affect approximately 500 to 700 positions at airBaltic’s bases in Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn.
Source: Baltic News Network
Separatist party wins Quebec provincial election; national government faces a headache
Plamondon has made it clear that he will clash with Ottawa if he believes the federal government is infringing upon the province's interests.
Source: Baltic News Network
airBaltic getting ready for mass layoffs
Between 500 and 700 jobs at its bases in Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn – this is the number of staff who could be made redundant as a result of the implementation of the national airline ‘airBaltic’s’ new business plan.
Source: LSM
After Stability! election collapse, Rosļikovs has no plans to return to Latvia for now
Before the election Rosļikovs had clearly stated that if people in Latvia supported him and were prepared to stand up for him, he would be ready to return to Latvia.
Source: Baltic News Network
Postal votes also counted as of Monday morning in Latvia
The Central Election Commission (CVK) has compiled the provisional results of the 15th Saeima elections held on 3 October – including votes cast by post. According to the provisional data compiled, 806,641 voters, or 51.79 per cent of those eligible to vote, took part in the election.
Source: LSM
Ten key takeouts from Latvia's election results
Here is a quick diagnosis of some of the main implications of Latvia's election result for the benefit of foreign observers who might not be familiar with the ins and outs of Latvian politics. There is some speculation and deduction involved, but that's all part of the fun.
Source: LSM
Latvia’s Saeima election: United List achieves best-ever result with 42 seats
United List wins Latvia’s 15th Saeima election with 35.3% of the vote and a record 42 seats, while only six parties make it into parliament.
Source: Baltic News Network
Many changed their vote in this year's Saeima elections
The number of voters who changed their vote in the 15th Saeima elections has increased nearly sevenfold, said Māris Zviedris, head of the Central Election Commission (CVK), in an interview on Latvian Television on Sunday morning, when approximately 95 per cent of the votes had been counted.
Source: LSM
Latvia PM Kulbergs wins election held under shadow of Ukraine war
By Andrius Sytas and Terje Solsvik Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs’ centrist, pro-Ukraine United List party won Saturday’s parliamentary election by an unexpectedly wide margin, partial results showed, with many voters on edge amid warnings of potential Russian aggression.
Source: Cyprus Mail
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs wins election held under shadow of Ukraine war
Baltic countries have warned for months that Russia is mounting sabotage, cyber and other hybrid attacks across Europe to erode support for Ukraine.
Source: The Japan Times
Latvia’s Andris Kulbergs scores big win in election shadowed by Russia
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs was set to retain power and form a pro-Ukrainian coalition after his centrist United List secured the biggest parliamentary election victory since Latvia regained independence in 1991.
Source: South China Morning Post
Latvia partial election results put PM's pro-Ukraine party ahead but coalition partners stumble
Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs' pro-Ukraine and pro-Europe party was seen winning a parliamentary election on Saturday by an unexpectedly wide margin, partial results showed, even as projected results for other coalition parties suggested the centrist PM would have to form a new ruling coalition.
Source: France 24
Latvia records lowest voter turnout since restoration of independence in 15th Saeima election
Preliminary data show just 50.81% voter turnout in Latvia’s 15th Saeima election – the lowest since the restoration of independence.
Source: Baltic News Network
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