Czech c.bankers say downside CPI risks increase

...compared with November, the meeting's minutes showed on Wednesday.

As already announced on the day of the meeting, the seven member policy board voted unanimously to hold the key repo rate steady at 2.50 percent for the third consecutive month, a full one percentage point below the euro zone's key rate.

"The Board agreed that the downside risks of the forecast were even higher in December than they had been in November," the minutes said, adding the crown was stronger than the bank had forecast and a "considerable downside risk" to inflation.

"However, it was said that the forecast also contained upside risks to inflation," the minutes said.

[PRAGUE/Reuters/Finance.cz]