TABLE-Czech FinMin updates econ forecasts in budget draft

    Oct 4 (Reuters) - The Czech Finance Ministry has updated its 
macroeconomic forecasts for 2006 and 2007 in the state budget 
draft for next year that the government submited to parliament. 
 
                                       2006             2007 
 GDP growth (pct)                    6.0  (6.2)      4.9  (5.0) 
 avg inflation (pct)                 2.8  (2.6)      3.0  (2.8) 
 avg unemployment (pct)              7.2  (7.6)      6.7  (7.4) 
 current account gap (pct/GDP)       3.4  (3.0)      2.4  (2.6) 
 trade balance (CZK bln)            45.0 (58.0)     60.0 (75.0) 
 public sector balance 
  (excl. net lending and 
   transformation costs, pct/GDP)*  -4.0 (-3.7)     -4.0  (n/a) 
 end-yr public debt (pct/gdp)       27.5 (26.7)     28.5  (n/a) 
 
    NOTE. Previous forecasts from a quarterly prediction made in 
July are in brackets. 
    The fiscal deficit projections are under a methodology that 
is different from the European Union's ESA 95 rules, used to 
track a member country's success in lowering its deficit below 
the limit of 3 percent of GDP to meet a key euro adoption test. 
    The public sector deficit includes the state budget as well 
as local budgets, public health insurance and various off-budget 
funds. 
    Last month, the finance ministry predicted a 3.8-3.9 percent 
public sector gap under the ESA 95 rules for this year, on the 
edge of the euro convergence programme target of 3.8 percent. 
 
 (Reporting by Marek Petrus and Mirka Krufova in Prague) 
 ((For past economic data and analysts' forecasts, double click 
on <CZ/ECON01>)) 
 ((prague.newsroom@reuters.com; +420-224 190 477)) 
  Keywords: ECONOMY CZECH FORECASTS TABLE