• Natural gas prices will increase by 0.43% on average as of 1 April 2007, according to RWE Transgas company. While prices for households will increase by 1.17% on average, wholesalers will enjoy lower prices by 0.36%. Natural gas and electricity markets will be fully liberalized as of 1 April and Energy Regulation Office will not set maximum prices for end users anymore.
• Producers’ price index in Slovakia decreased by 0.5% in January thanks to lower prices of refinery production. Year-on-year inflation in slovak industry decelerated to 3.4% from 5.4% in December.
• According to preliminary estimates consumer prices in Germany increased by 0.4% because of seasonal increase of holiday stays prices. Inflation should remain at 1.6% y/y.
• Consumers’ confidence in the USA, measured by Conference Board index, increased in February to 112.5 from 110.2 in January. Improved labour market outlook brought enough optimism.
• Slovakia’s current account deficit increased last year to SKK 129.6bn from SKK 126.9bn in 2005.
• No harmonisation of corporate taxes in the EU yet. Meeting of Ministers of Finance of EU member states voted against german proposal, namely it was the Czech Republic, UK, Slovakia, Baltic States, Poland and Cyprus.