All analysis from category Macro comment
Macro comment
Foreign trade in December: Impact of cheap oil
Despite the problems that are holding back the economies of our main trading partners, foreign trade did well at the end of the year. The trade balance was also visibly helped by favourable prices for minerals, especially oil. Foreign trade posted a surplus of CZK 6.8 billion in December. Exports increased by 9.1 per cent year-on-year, while imports rose by 8.5 per cent.
Macro comment
Consumer prices in January: Slight decline in inflation
The start of the year confirmed that the period of high inflation is over. January tends to be a bit erratic as a large number of items in the consumer basket are revalued. This year, however, there was no big drama. The consumer price index rose 1.3 per cent month-on-month, while annual inflation fell to 2.8 per cent.
Macro comment
Industry in December: end of the year without improvement
Industrial production in December showed a year-on-year decline for the third month in a row.
Macro comment
Retail sales in December: year-end sales growth
Retail sales in December had risen year-on-year for a year in a row and, thanks to growth in real household incomes, continued growth in sales could be expected this year as well.
Macro comment
PMI in January: drop in production volume at the beginning of the year
The business conditions index was below the neutral value of 50 points in January for the thirty-second month in a row, indicating a decline in business activity.
