Parliamentary elections in the Czech Republic would win CSSD followed by ODS, according to a current public opinion survey by CVVM. CSSD would receive 25% of voters' preferences, ODS 23%, KSCM 10% and coalition of KDU-CSL and US 18%.
Import prices dropped by 1.1%, month-on-month, and 7.5%, year-on-year, in January. Export prices also decreased, 1.0%, m-o-m, and 4.7%, y-o-y. Terns of trade thus improved by 0.1%, m-o-m, and 3.0%, y-o-y, in January.
OPEC members decided to prolong the current system of oil production quotas at least until the end of the second quarter of this year. Daily production should not exceed 21.7 mil barrels. This decision will probably result in a mild increase of prices on oil markets diminishing a probability of further reduction of fuel prices in the Czech Republic.
Consumer prices in Poland rose by 0.1% in February after a jump by 0.8% in January. Inflation, measured by year-on-year change, thus increased at 3.5% from 3.4% in January and stopped a declining trend that can be observed for 18 months.
Turnover in retail trade in Germany in January decreased 1.8% in real terms compared with the corresponding month of the preceding year. When adjusted for calendar and seasonal variations, the January turnover was, in nominal terms, 1.6% larger than that of the preceding month.
Industrial production in U.S. economy rose 0.4% in February after having increased by a revised 0.2% in January. These gains in output represent the first consecutive monthly increases in industrial production since August and September 2000.
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Radim Krejčí