RPT-POLL-Czech CPI seen rising, bolstering rate hike calls

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* WHAT: June consumer inflation, unemployment

* WHEN: July 11, 0700 GMT

* Consumer prices seen up 0.3 percent month-on-month, 2.5 percent year-on-year. End-June unemployment rate seen at 6.3 percent.

By Mirka Krufova and Marek Petrus

PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech inflation probably rose in June to remain half a percentage point above the central bank's projection, according to a Reuters poll, a result that will bolster expectations of an interest rate hike later this month.

The consumer price index (CPI), a broad gauge of inflation targeted by the central bank (CNB), is expected to show a rise of 0.3 percent in June from May , according to the median forecast of 14 analysts in the poll.

This would take the annual inflation rate to 2.5 percent from 2.4 percent in May and return it to April's level, which was the highest since September 2006.

"The (June) number will be about half a percentage point higher than the central bank's forecast, which would underscore inflation risks," said Ales Michl, analyst at Raiffeisenbank.

In its most recent quarterly projection from April, the CNB had forecast a 1.8-2.2 percent annual rise in consumer prices for June. The May inflation number was already half a percentage point higher than the CNB had expected.

The inflation data are due for release on July 11, along with end-June unemployment numbers.

The analysts' median forecast was for the jobless rate to dip to 6.3 percent of workforce -- a new long-term low -- from May's 6.4 percent.

Central bank policymakers have said they are watching the labour market closely for any sign of rising wages spilling over into consumer price rises, amid reports that companies are struggling to keep or hire workers in the booming economy.

Markets have been gearing up for higher interest rates in the coming months after inflation quickened beyond expectations and consumers helped to propel the economy in early 2007 to the eighth consecutive quarter of growth exceeding six percent.

Last week, policymakers held the main rate at 2.75 percent , the lowest level in the European Union, taking a breather after a quarter of a percentage point rise in May to contain budding inflation pressures in the strong economy.

Governor Zdenek Tuma said the CNB had no reason to "panic" and hike at every monthly meeting, but added board members saw a risk of a sharper quickening of inflation than they had expected in April -- suggesting room for more rate hikes.

The CNB's April quarterly forecast put inflation at 3.2-4.2 percent at the end of this year.

- OVERVIEW OF ECONOMIC FORECASTS:

- SUMMARY OF COMMENTS BY CNB POLICYMAKERS: [ID:nL28700042]

Keywords: CZECH ECONOMY/INFLATION