Gross domestic product development
2.6
% yoy
Current value
2.8
% yoy
Last quarter's value
Gross domestic product development
Comments
Consumption, wages and industry dragged GDP growth, but do not favour a fall in interest rates
Comment by Jaromír Šindel, Chief Economist of the Czech Bank of Economics: The Czech economy closed last year with stronger growth than originally expected. The Czech economy could repeat its 2.6% annual growth this year. Household consumption was the driving force at the end of last year, supported by stronger wage growth, but also by strong growth in manufacturing. However, higher wage costs have far outpaced productivity growth, and so still elevated core inflation will remain the central bank's focus, which should result in the CNB interest rate holding steady at 3.5%.
Slight economic slowdown in late 2025 and this year is poised to repeat last year's 2.5% growth
Comment by Jaromír Šindel, Chief Economist of the CBA: Economic growth slowed down at the end of last year, but still achieved solid 0.5% quarter-on-quarter GDP growth.The structure of growth has not changed significantly - consumption is dominant, which is probably not true of investment. This is in line with the latest sentiment data. A more positive sign is improving productivity. The outlook for this year is a repeat of last year's 2.5% growth, thanks to a better outlook for real wage growth and a change in fiscal policy. Conversely, weaker external demand, even given industrial sentiment, is likely to be a drag on stronger economic growth.
Strong GDP growth masks a key problem, namely continued weak investment and falling productivity while wage growth remains strong
Comment by Jaromír Šindel, Chief Economist of the CBA: The stronger quarter-on-quarter GDP growth of 0.8% in Q3 mainly reflected foreign trade, while the contribution of domestic demand was not as strong as in the previous quarter. Moreover, there has been a continuous decline in fixed investment excluding construction investment, undermining the future potential of the economy and keeping productivity growth low and fuelling inflationary growth in unit labour costs (see five key points below).
The economy delivered another surprise with productivity growth picking up in Q3.
Comment by Jaromír Šindel, Chief Economist of the CBA: The return to stronger economic growth of 0.7% quarter-on-quarter in Q3 was a surprise, confirming the indications of stronger confidence in September. At the same time, stagnant employment added a welcome return to stronger productivity, which may partially dampen the hawkish impulse of stronger GDP for the CNB. The CNB will most likely leave interest rates unchanged at 3.5%, not only at the November meeting, but GDP details may set a more distinct tone to its communication later in November.
October industrial sentiment awakening with hawkish price signals
Comment by Jaromír Šindel, Chief Economist of the CBA: Stronger sentiment in October suggests a return to stronger GDP growth for the end of this year after a probably slightly worse result in Q3. Higher price expectations may delay the return of core inflation to the target.
Slight recovery in disposable income was enough for stronger consumption and higher savings, but not for more expensive real estate
Comment by Jaromír Šindel, Chief Economist of the CBA: The recovery in disposable income in Q2 was still dampened by fiscal policy, so it remained weaker compared to the increase in wages and property prices. Nevertheless, households managed to increase both consumption and their savings.