...of 2.5 percent from 1.9 percent a month earlier. The figure returned to the central bank's tolerance band of one percentage point either side of a 3 percent target and was likely to lead markets to shorten the odds on an interest rate increase as early as this month. KEY POINTS: (pct change) April March April forecast month/month 0.7 0.3 0.4 year/year 2.5 1.9 2.2 NOTE. The central bank had predicted 2.1-2.2 percent inflation on an annual basis, according to its April Inflation Report. (Details of April inflation data................[ID:nPRA001288] (Details of April jobless data..................[ID:nL10317377] - The monthly rise comes on the back of a 1.6 percent rise in food prices, a 4.3 percent rise in fuel costs and 2.1 percent growth in tobacco prices because of a delayed impact of a sales tax hike. - Natural gas prices up 1.4 percent, heating costs 0.6 percent higher, regulated rents edge up 0.9 percent. - Clothing and footwear prices up 1.2 percent month-on-month. COMMENTARY: RADOMIR JAC, CHIEF ANALYST, PPF ASSET MANAGEMENT, PRAGUE "The reported acceleration (in annual inflation) went beyond any imagination. Also the structure of the figure shows that the acceleration in annual growth was quite broad-based. The jump in overall inflation was mainly driven by food prices, cigarettes (excise tax impact) and by prices of telecommunication services. "Nevertheless, it looks as though inflation net of impact of regulated prices, taxes and food prices also went higher in April. "The April data, combined with the relatively weak crown, is a clear signal for the Czech central bank to restart its tightening cycle as early as at their May 31 board meeting. The market may start to speculate that the Czech repo rate will climb above 3.00 percent by the end of the year." ALES MICHL, ANALYST, RAIFFEISENBANK, PRAGUE "We do not expect today's surprisingly high inflation number to be decisive for a rise in interest rates in May, even though it is tempting to consider raising rates because of a weaker crown. "In our view, the Czech National Bank will wait until at least June for data about gross domestic product (GDP) growth and wages in the first quarter." MARKET REACTION: - Crown flat at 28.250 per euro after recovering from Wednesday's 2-month lows. Short-dated market rates edge some 5-6 basis points higher. BACKGROUND: - The central bank held the key two-week repo rate steady at 2.5 percent in April. - Report on last Czech c.bank rate decision [ID:nPRG000331] [ID:nL26624395] [ID:nPRA001284] - The central bank (CNB) targets headline inflation which it seeks to keep at 3 percent year-on-year, allowing for fluctuations by plus/minus one percentage point from this level. - The CNB's quarterly prediction sees consumer prices rising 3.2-4.2 percent year-on-year in December 2007 and 2.7-4.1 percent in December 2008, consumer inflation net of impact of indirect tax changes rising 2.1-3.5 percent year-on-year in March 2008 and 2.2-3.6 percent in September 2008. LINKS: - For further details on April other past inflation data, Reuters 3000 Xtra users can click on the Czech Statistical Bureau's website: http://www.czso.cz/eng/csu.nsf/kalendar/2004-ISC - For LIVE Czech economic data releases, click on - Instant Views on other Czech data [CZ/INSTANT] - Overview of Czech macroeconomic indicators [CZ/ECI] - Key data releases in central Europe [CEE-CONVERGENCE-WATCH] - For Czech money markets data click on - Czech money guide - Czech benchmark state bond prices - Czech forward money market rates Keywords: CZECH ECONOMY/INFLATION
[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]