• Proposal of Ministry of Finance for state budget deficit reaches CZK 70.8bn for year 2008. According to ESA 95 methodology, public finances deficit should reach 2.95% of GDP. In 2009 and 2010 it is expected that deficit is going to reach 2.6% and 2.3% of GDP respectively. • Agriculture Chamber estimates that food prices are going to rise by up to 25% in the near-term due to high global demand for cereals. Previously, Chamber expected prices of food to rise by 10%. • US Fed boss Bernanke stated that Fed is going act as to lower influence of mortgage market crisis on economy. He added that it is not his role to protect credit grantors and investors before implications of their decisions. Later on, President Bush said that it is not government’s role to save speculators. • Eurozone inflation in August reached 1.8% y/y while unemployment remained at 6.9%. Both results are in line with expectations. • Slovakia’s state budget reached surplus of SKK 0.40bn at the end of August. In the same period year ago it reached deficit of SKK 5.72bn.