And it looks very much like there is worse to come with the Markit Economics/ABN Amro Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI) for the Czech manufacturing sector fallinf for the third consecutive month in September, and remaining below the critical 50-point expansion/contraction level for the second consecutive month. The index fell to 46.5 in September, down from a reading of 47.3 in August - marking the lowest level in the survey's 87-month history and a 55.8 reading in July.
The Construction Slump Continues
The constant-price seasonally-adjusted construction output index was down by 0.1% in August, when compared with July. In comparison to August 2007, constant price output dropped by 1.2%. The planning and building control authorities granted 11 762 building permits, up 4.2% more year-on-year. Approximate value of permitted constructions was also up by 2.8% year-on-year and reached CZK 36.2 billion.
Inflation Holds Steady
Consumer price dropped in September when compared with August by 0.2 %. The downward effect on the consumer price level, month-on-month, came from the seasonal price fall in domestic recreational stays and recreational stays abroad (as in previous years at this time) and a further drop in the price of automotive fuel. The year-on-year consumer price growth accelerated to 6.6 % in September (from 6.5 % in August).
The month-on-month consumer price level decrease by 0.2 % owed mainly due to a price reduction in 'recreation and culture', in which prices of package holidays went down by 14.6 %. In the 'transport' section the drop in the price of automotive fuel continued for the third month and was 1.7 % in September. The price of petrol and diesel oil was the lowest in the last five months. In 'food and non-alcoholic beverages' prices of fruit, potatoes and other vegetables were all down (by 7.8 %, 8.8 % and 9.2 %, respectively). Prices of rolls and baguettes dropped by 3.3 %, flour by 5.6 %, eggs by 2.3 % and cheese by 1.4 %. In the 'communications' section, prices decreased by 1.1 % due especially to due to lower prices for mobile roaming services.
In terms of the year-on-year comparison, in September, the increase in consumer prices was 6.6 %, i.e. 0.1 percentage point up on August. An price increases accelerated primarily in 'alcoholic beverages and tobacco', 'recreation and culture' and 'education'. Prices of tobacco products rose by 13.1 % (from 8.9 % in August). In spite of a marked month-on-month drop in prices of package holidays, their prices were 1.5 % up, year-on-year. In the 'education' section the y-o-y growth accelerated almost in all levels of educational services. On the other hand, in 'food and non-alcoholic beverages', the y-o-y growth of prices slowed down mainly due to changes in prices of fruit, which were lower by 2.2 % in September (a 3.7% growth in August). Similarly, prices of unsalted butter dropped to 7.6 % in September, while in August they were 1.4 % up. A slowdown in the growth of prices was recorded primarily for rolls and baguettes to 25.6 % (from 30.1 % in September), flour to 40.5 % (from 61.6 % in August) and cheese to 4.9 % (from 10.5 % in August).
The biggest effect on the price level still came from 'housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels', where prices of natural gas rose by 27.5 %, electricity by 9.5 %, heat and hot water by 11.1 % and solid fuels by 19.9 %. Net actual rentals rose by 14.7 %, of which for dwellings with regulated rentals by 22.3 %, while for dwellings with market rentals by 3.0 %. In 'transport', prices of automotive fuel were higher by 4.3 % (by 5.2 % in August), which is the lowest y-o-y increase over the last eleven months. The growth of petrol prices ranged from 1.7 % to 3.2 %, while the growth of diesel oil prices was 13.3 %.
The average number of persons employed in industry decreased in August 2008 by 5.7 thousand persons, y-o-y (i.e. -0.5%). Employment decreased most in 'manufacture of textiles and textile products' (-12.5%), 'manufacture of leather and leather products' (-6.9%) and in 'electricity, gas and water supply' (-6.8%). Increases in average number of persons employed were registered in 'manufacture of transport equipment' (+4.8%), 'manufacture of electrical and optical equipment' (+3.2%) and 'manufacture of rubber and plastic products' (+1.9%).
The average hourly wage increased by 13.4% and stood at CZK 172.4.
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