Czech industrial producer prices rose 0.2% from December, the lowest January increase since 1990. The annual rate fell to 0.6%, the lowest since July 1999. The main reason of PPI index increase was a change of regulated prices of electricity, heat and drinking water. Prices of agriculture producers dropped 0.7%, m-o-m, and increased by 1.5%, y-o-y.
Czech chief negotiator with EU Pavel Telicka said that the Czech Republic would discuss the restructuring program for the Czech steel sector with the EU before February 28.
The Chamber of Deputies decided that cars imported to the Czech Republic could be old up to 8 years, while the previous legislation counted on no more than 5 years.
The Chamber of Deputies turned down a bill on the introduction of tuition fees in the first reading yesterday. Deputies of Social Democrats (CSSD), Communists (KSCM) and Christian Democrats (KDU-CSL) voted against the proposal of Petr Mateju (US).
U.S. retail sales for January, adjusted for seasonal, holiday, and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, decreased by 0.2% from the previous month, but up 2.8% from January 2001.
Japan's economy shrank 0.5% in the third quarter last year, revised figures showed. The Japanese government has forecast the world's second-biggest economy will shrink 1 percent in the fiscal year ending March 31.
Click here for the „Czech economic daily“ in .pdf format.