There is still a question mark on timing of possible interest rates hike, according to Czech National Bank board member Mojmir Hampl. Risks against and in favour of inflation are according to him balanced at the moment and interest rates hike is further than expected at the end of last year.
Government will discuss the amended version of Convergence Programme today. This version calculates on public finance deficit of 4% of GDP this year. As the previous version calculated with deficit of 3.3% of GDP we can expect critical assessment of European Commission.
US foreign trade reached deficit of USD 59.1bn in January after December’s deficit of USD 61.5bn. Exports increased by 10.7% y/y while imports grew by 2.7%.
US unemployment rate decreased by 0.1% in February to 4.5%. At the same time there were 97,000 new jobs were created.