• For the first four months of this year state budget reached deficit of
CZK 17.0bn with income of
CZK 318.2bn and expenses of
CZK 335.2bn. The figure is slightly lower than in April last year when it reached almost
CZK 20bn.
• Unemployment rate in
eurozone decreased to 7.2% in March from 7.3% in February which is a historically best result. Unemployment in the whole EU reaches 7.3%.
• Slovak state budget showed deficit of SKK 1.52bn at the end of April while in the same month last year it reached surplus of SKK 0.18bn.
• US manufacture contracts increased by 3.1% in March after 1.4% in February which is a better result than market expected (2.1%).
• Romanian central bank cut interest rates. Prime rate declined by 25bps to 7.25%.
• Lower Chamber of Parliament approved amendment which allows only technologically demanding investments to receive incentives. In addition, incentives should be more accessible in regions with high unemployment.
• Car and vans production in the Czech Republic in the 1Q07 increased by 6.8% to 244,433 cars. Biggest producers are Skoda Auto and TPCA.