Statistics Lithuania informs that, based on the data from the Building Permits and State Construction Supervision Information System the Republic of Lithuania (IS) Infostatyba, in I quarter 2015, against I quarter 2014, the number of building permits issued increased by 1.6%, of which for the construction of residential buildings – by 2.8%.

The Lithuania-China Business Council under the Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists have a signed a cooperation agreement with Beijing's Council for the Promotion of International Trade.

Lithuanian Finance Minister Rimantas Sadzius attended the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) in Brussels on Tuesday. The council discussed the state and progress of negotiations with the European Parliament on the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI). Lithuania is pleased that its proposals have been taken into account when negotiating over EFSI's regulations.

While currently enterprises have enough own funds for developing their businesses, in the future most of the enterprises planning development intend to also use other sources of funds, said the Bank of Lithuania presenting a survey of enterprises.

Statistics Lithuania informs that in April 2015, compared to March, prices for consumer goods and services increased by 0.7%. It was mainly influenced by an increase in prices for vegetables, clothing, footwear, spirits, fruit and fuels and lubricants, as well as by a decrease in prices for heat energy, package holidays, milk and milk products, cheese and eggs.

Moody's credit rating agency upgraded Lithuania's long-term borrowing rating from Baa1 (positive outlook) to A3 (stable outlook).

On 7 May 2015, introducing to the Seimas of Lithuania the annual activity report of the Government for 2014, Prime Minister Algirdas Butkevicius said the fight against the shadow economy must be faster and smarter, and this is where the new smart tax administration system comes into play.

Statistics Lithuania informs that, based on non-final data obtained from customs declarations, Intrastat reporting and VAT returns data, exports in March 2015 amounted to EUR 1.9 billion (LTL 6.6 billion), imports – EUR 2.2 billion (LTL 7.5 billion).

Danske Bank A/S Lithuania branch earned EUR 4.4 million on its core activities (business and private banking), and the bad debts' provisions decrease was EUR 1.2 million in Q1 of 2015, the bank said in a statement.

During April 2015, state company Klaipedos Nafta reloaded 493 thousand tons of petroleum products into its storage tanks of Klaipeda oil terminal and Subacius fuel base (SFB), i.e. greater by 1.5% compared to April 2014, when 486 thousand tons were reloaded, the company said in a statement.