The Central Statistical Office (GUS) published the latest data on Poland’s economy. The report came as a positive surprise to many Polish economists and market experts.

According to GUS, the unemployment rate in Poland was 11.9% in May, vs. 12.3% in April. This is the fourth consecutive month with a drop in the unemployment rate which in May was lower by 1.1% compared to February.

In its latest report, GUS also gives results of retail sale, which in May grew by 4.3% in comparison with May 2009, and by 3.1% in comparison with last month.

The figures published by GUS are much better than expected by experts, who when asked by the Polish Press Agency (PAP) estimated that the retail sale would increase in May by 2.5% month to month and 3.2% year to year, respectively.

The GUS release also reads that, “between January and May, labour productivity in industry was up 12.9% compared with the period between January and May 2009, with lower employment (down 2.5%) and higher average monthly gross wage (up 4.8%)”. According to GUS, the number of new orders received in industry is also growing in Poland. In a year to year comparison, this value increased by 9.9% and an impressive 19.3% in May and April, respectively.