Both exports and imports of goods decreased month-on-month in April, and their volume was lower than a year ago. Real seasonally adjusted exports of goods fell for the third consecutive month in April, this time by 1.5%. The decline was significantly influenced by lower exports to Italy, Austria and Germany. Exports decreased in most major product groups, particularly in metals and metal products. After several months of decline, exports of road vehicles increased in April, and exports of pharmaceutical products were also higher. Real imports of goods, which fluctuate considerably on a monthly basis, declined by 6.9% in April, primarily due to lower imports of intermediate goods (all seasonally adjusted). Exports and imports were also lower year-on-year in April, but on average in the first four months of the year, they remained higher year-on-year (by 0.6% and 1.8% respectively).
Export orders remained at a very low level in May amid uncertain international economic conditions.

In May, the number of registered unemployed persons (seasonally adjusted) continued to decline slightly (by 0.5%). According to original data, 43,196 people were unemployed at the end of May, 2.6% fewer than at the end of April. Year-on-year, the number of unemployed was 2% lower, marking a smaller decrease compared to the beginning of the year. This was influenced, alongside the still moderate outflow from the unemployment register, by a slightly higher inflow of redundant workers into unemployment. The year-on-year decrease in the number of long-term unemployed (–9.3%) and unemployed persons aged over 55 (–11.7%) was similar to the decline observed in April. In contrast, youth unemployment (ages 15–29) has been gradually increasing year-on-year since the end of last year (6.6% higher in May compared to the same month of the previous year).