* Consumer prices dropped by 0.1% in March due to low food prices and seasonal decline in holiday and clothing prices. On the other hand, dear oil pushed gasoline prices up. Year-on-year inflation remained at -0,4%.
* Producer prices rose by 0.3% in March and the year-on-year deflation reduced to 0.4% from 0.7% in February. High oil prices in previous months led to an increase in prices of refinery products and chemical goods.
* The rate of unemployment declined to 10.0% in March from 10.2% in February as a supply of seasonal jobs increased. Seasonally adjusted figure is still on the rise.
* The central government debt climbed up to CZK 429.1bn at the end of the first quarter 2003 from CZK 395.9bn in 2002.
* Industrial production rose by 5.2% year-on-year in February after an increase by 6.4% in January driven by a production of rubber and plastic products and car industry.
* Construction output fell by 3.6 % in February due to unfavorable weather conditions and a weak demand for construction works abroad.
* The Czech Republic’s foreign debt diminished by CZK 19.1bn to CZK 792.1bn (35.1% GDP) last year.
* The current account deficit increased to CZK 9.5bn in February from CZK 3.0bn in January. The main reason of the widening gap was a fact that January’s figures include the EU assistance in connection with covering the flood damage worth CZK 4bn. Moreover, we could see a slightly higher trade deficit in February.
David Marek