Czech Republic
Czech Republic most innovative among V4 countries
The Czech Republic improved its position in the 2020 Bloomberg Innovation Index ranking to 24th place, becoming the most innovative country among the Visegrad Four countries.
Eastern EU members “failing to address corruption effectively”, finds Transparency International
Many of the newer EU member states saw their scores deteriorate on the latest Corruption Perceptions Index amid growing state capture and efforts by governments to undermine judicial independence.
Immigration helps ease CEE labour crisis
The labour shortages that have threatened to limit economic expansion in Central and some parts of Southeast Europe have started to ease in some countries, with increased labour migration a contributing factor.
Slovenia ranks first in emerging Europe in social mobility
Most economies are failing to provide the conditions in which their citizens can thrive, said the World Economic Forum on releasing its new social mobility index.
East Asian investors ramp up investments in Central and Eastern Europe
China became the top investor in CEE in 2019, leading fellow East Asian investors that accounted for a growing share of M&A in the region. More deals are expected to follow, says a new report from law firm CMS.
Visegrad leaders stand united at Prague summit
V4 plus Austria agree on issues such as migration, border security and enlargement, but differences arise over nuclear energy as a solution to climate crisis.
EU outlines €100bn plan to support coal regions' transition to climate neutrality
Coal producing regions such as those in Poland and Czechia stand to benefit from the Just Transition Mechanism, a tool Brussels hopes will mobilise up to €100bn to ease the move away from coal as a source of energy.
ING: Czech industrial production fell by more than expected in November as economy cools
Industrial production in Czechia fell by 5.7% year-on-year in November as the five year long boom comes to an end.
VIENNEAST COMPASS: Risk outlook 2020 – balancing in limbo
CEESE had a good year in 2019, with the economies in the region buoyed by increasing domestic consumption and capital spending that allowed the region to decouple from western Europe.
The number of unemployed Czechs reached its lowest level since 1996
At the end of last year, the number of unemployed job applicants in the Czech Republic reached 215,532, which is the lowest figure since December 1996.
Sales of hybrid cars in the Czech Republic up by 73% y/y in 2019
Sales of hybrid cars, combining an internal combustion engine and an electric motor, in the Czech Republic increased by 73% year-on-year to 8,346 cars in 2019, while the domestic automotive industry market declined
OUTLOOK 2020 Czech Republic
GDP growth is expected to slow in 2020, with labour shortages remaining the main bottleneck to Czech economic growth.
CAPITAL ECONOMICS: CEE growth comes off the boil in 2019, but loose money and strong demand will bolster growth in 2020
The European Commission’s batch of Economic Sentiment Indicators (ESIs) fell sharply in December, although they remain consistent with regional GDP growth holding steady at around 3.6% y/y in Q4. Robust domestic demand should help to cushion the blow
Czech firearms producer Ceska Zbrojovka plans IPO to fund US expansion
Czech firearms company Ceska Zbrojovka Group SE is considering an IPO on the Prague Stock Exchange to finance an expansion in the United States
Turnover of Czech e-shops increased to a record CZK161bn in 2019
The Czechs spent a record CZK161bn (€6.3bn) for goods bought in e-shops in 2019, up by 15% year-on-year, based on data published by Shoptet company which runs almost half of Czech e-market
Czech December PMI falls to its lowest level since 2009
Czech manufacturing sector continued to stagnate in December, but rose slightly to 43.6 from 43.5 in November, partly driven by the sharpest deterioration in operating conditions since 2009, which stemmed from weaker domestic and foreign client deman