Tallinn's Mayor Raudsepp demands apology from Ligi and Michal over economic sentiment data

Statistics Estonia published economic sentiment indicators for the first time, showing how people and businesses feel about the economy. Former head of the Institute of Economic Research and current Mayor of Tallinn, Peeter Raudsepp (Isamaa), responded by demanding apologies from politicians and analysts.

Statistics Estonia released economic sentiment figures for the first time on Tuesday, providing a new window into how Estonian households and businesses perceive their own financial situation. The release of these so-called conjuncture numbers prompted an immediate reaction from a prominent figure in the field.

Peeter Raudsepp, the former head of the Estonian Institute of Economic Research (konjunktuuriinstituut) and current Mayor of Tallinn representing Isamaa, responded sharply to the data. Raudsepp demanded public apologies from politicians and analysts — specifically naming Finance Minister [Jürgen Ligi](/politicians/jurgen-ligi) and former Prime Minister [Kristen Michal](/politicians/kristen-michal) — over what he described as unfair criticism directed at economic assessments he and his institute had previously made.

The publication of these sentiment indicators by Statistics Estonia marks a new chapter in how Estonia tracks economic mood, as such data had not previously been officially compiled and released in this format. Economic sentiment surveys measure confidence levels among consumers and businesses, serving as a leading indicator of future economic trends.

Raudsepp, who built much of his career on economic forecasting at the conjuncture institute, appears to view the new official statistics as vindication of positions he had long held — positions that had been questioned or dismissed by some in the political establishment. The demand for apologies signals a broader debate in Estonia over how economic data is interpreted and who is held accountable for their assessments.