Czech Republic
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Czech economy grows by 2% in Q1, according to preliminary estimate
Czechia's gross domestic product grew by 2% year on year and by 0.5% quarter on quarter in the first quarter of this year (chart), according to the preliminary estimate released by the Czech Statistical Office.
Trump policies won’t harm Emerging Europe badly – and will actively benefit Russia
Latest wiiw forecasts show little direct impact on Central and Southeast Europe from Trump trade wars.
Incoming German government compromises on carbon offsets to boost flagging economy
Germany’s incoming government has conditionally endorsed the European Union’s proposed 2040 climate goal and backed the EC's recommended 90% emissions reduction target but only if international carbon offsets and carbon removals are permitted.
How Europe has weaned itself off Russian gas in the last three years
In 2021, Eastern European countries imported almost half of their gas from Russia. Only two countries in the region – Albania and Kosovo – were wholly independent of Russian gas.
COMMENT: Make no mistake: Trump’s tariff turmoil is a major economic crisis
A wave of erratic tariff announcements from the United States has further battered already the already weak Eurozone economic indicators, with last week's sharp decline in the ZEW Economic Sentiment Index collapsing further.
New study reveals extent of Russian disinformation targeting Emerging Europe
'Pravda network' targeting regions of geopolitical interest for the Kremlin with negative impact on democracy and regional stability.
COMMENT: Could the US strike a deal to restart Nord Stream gas pipeline?
US President Donald Trump has made it clear that he wants to do business with Russia and tap into its vast raw material resources. But restarting the Nord Stream gas pipeline is the only US-Russian business project that looks viable.
COMMENT: US tariffs set to squeeze European corporate earnings across multiple sectors – Fitch Ratings
US President Donald Trump’s Liberation Day tariffs on European imports – set at 20% for EU member states and 10% for the UK – are poised to curtail revenue and profitability growth across several corporate sectors in Europe, according Fitch.
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Czech industry returns to growth of 1.5% y/y in February
Czech industrial production increased by 1.5% year on year and by 1.7% month on month, returning to mild growth after a series of unconvincing results.
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Czech inflation stays at 2.7% y/y in March, according to flash estimate
Czech consumer prices (inflation) rose by 2.7% year on year and by 0.1% month on month, according to the flash estimate released by the Czech Statistical Office.
ING: Trump’s Tariffs - Europe’s worst economic nightmare just came true
A US 20% reciprocal tariff on the European Union will hurt. It's worsened the eurozone's short-term outlook. Now, so much depends on European governments to push through with their planned fiscal stimulus and reforms to strengthen domestic economies.
US tariffs on EU imports to hit Central and Southeast Europe
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says bloc considering retaliatory moves after Trump announces 20% tariffs.
Czech PMI posts 48.3 in March, highest since June 2022
The Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for Czechia, compiled monthly by market intelligence company S&P Global, posted 48.3 in March.
Emerging Europe risks being “cast adrift” from the West, think-tank warns
Ongoing geopolitical realignment accelerated by Trump’s return to office could plunge Emerging Europe into a cycle of instability and regional conflict, says a paper published by the ECFR.
COMMENT: Europe’s outlook improves as Trump makes Ukraine conflct progress
European leaders are alarmed at the increasingly warm relations between US President Trump and Putin, but economists are encouraged as even a “quick and dirty” ceasefire deal to the Ukraine conflict will buoy flagging CEE economies.
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Czech central bankers keep interest rate at 3.75%
Czech National Bank (CNB) kept the interest rate unchanged at 3.75%, meeting wide market expectations. The rate is the lowest since January 2022.
TNT ammunition depot in Czechia explodes
The cause of the explosion is currently unclear, but police said a “technical issue” is “the most likely cause”.
COMMENT: Is the EU going to fall apart?
Is the EU about to break apart under the stress of taking over the full weight of supporting Ukraine, the need to rearm and the hundreds of billions that must be invested if it is to become competitive again?
Several EU countries back push to fund Prague-based RFE/RL in response to Trump axeing it
Member states want EU to fund Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty after US President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at dismantling the Agency for Global Media.
EU to soften gas storage rules to avoid price spikes
EU member states are considering softening the bloc’s binding gas storage targets in order to avoid sending gas prices soaring again ahead of what is anticipated to be a difficult year.