Cities in the Balkans may score badly in some fields, but they score highly when it comes to labour costs.

Monthly inflation in Romania fell in January to levels not seen in decades, but concerns remain over the country’s overall chance of economic recovery.

Romania's Central Bank has increased its inflation forecast for this year, though at well below 4 per cent, the rate is not seen as especially worrying.

Macedonia plans to restore foreign investments in 2012 to the level last seen in 2008, one year before the global economic downturn sliced investments in half.

Coal miners in Bulgaria's Maritsa Iztok mines have called off their week-long strike, easing concerns that the strike would significantly disrupt power supplies.

Serbia's unemployment rate has hit an all-time high of almost 24 per cent and experts warn it will get even worse unless the economy starts growing markedly.

Workers at Bulgaria's state-owned Maritsa Iztok Mine continued their strike for a second day on Monday, with miners demanding an increase in wages.