...gate costs to inch up to 3.7 percent. Resurgent price growth in the booming economy has led markets to expect the central bank (CNB) to return to interest rate hikes by July. KEY POINTS: (change in percent) April March April forecast month/month 0.6 0.5 0.4 year/year 3.7 3.6 3.7 (For full table of data...........................[nPRA001301) - The statistics office says a 6.1 percent monthly gain in coke and crude oil refinery costs, a 0.6 percent rise in basic metals prices, and a 0.4 percent up-tick in food, beverages and tobacco products are the main driving forces of the monthly PPI increase. - Separately, the statistical bureau said agriculture producer prices fell 0.7 percent in April from March to post a 12.5 percent year-on-year increase, up from a 15.0 percent increase a month earlier. BACKGROUND: - Industrial PPI and agriculture producer prices are watched closely by the markets as leading indicators for consumer inflation which is targeted by the Czech central bank (CNB). - However, analysts have pointed out the pass-through of changes in production costs into overall consumer prices has been limited recently. - April consumer inflation [ID:nL10545694] [ID:nL09317767] - March industrial output figures [ID:nL15302934] - Report on last Czech c.bank rate decision [ID:nPRA001284] [ID:nPRG000331] [ID:nL26624395] LINKS: - For further details on April producer prices and past data, Reuters 3000 Xtra users can click on the statistical bureau's Website: http://www.czso.cz/eng/csu.nsf/kalendar/2004-ipc - 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/PRICES
[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]