Given the (i) vast increase in urban population in these countries, (ii) low per capita income, (iii) constrained fiscal circumstances of governments, leading to low expenditure on urban infrastructure, and (iv) the existence of weak local governments in most urban areas, the progress achieved is indeed quite noteworthy.
Chart 5 CPI movements in selected CESEE countries (y-o-y rates, in %)  19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0  Romania  Hungary  16.7  Czech Republic  15.0  17.5  Poland  Serbia 15.6  14.7 13.7  12.8  10.4  9.3 7.5  7 8 9 101112 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 101112 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 101112 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 101112 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 101112 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 2022 2022 2022 2022 2022  Headline inflation  Core inflation  Inflation target  Tolerance band  Source: central banks.