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PRAGUE, July 1 (Reuters) - The Czech Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) was flat in June at 57.6, the eighth straight month above the 50-point break-even level, Markit Economics data showed on Thursday.
The data for the Czech manufacturing sector, compiled by Markit for HSBC, pointed to the same strong rate of improvement in overall operating conditions as that signalled in May.
Output and new orders both continued to rise rapidly, while new export business increased at a survey-record pace, the data showed. This supported further job creation in the sector, while the latest findings also showed further marked inflationary pressure on a wide range of inputs.
Rising prices for inputs reflected supply shortages, resulting in a record lengthening of suppliers' delivery times during the month, Markit said.
**************************************************************** KEY POINTS: 06/10 05/10 06/09 Purchasing Managers' Index 57.6 57.6 41.9 Output 60.1 58.5 44.1 (For table, double click on......................[
] - A figure above 50 indicates expansion on the previous month while a number below 50 signals contraction. COMMENTARY:KUBILAY OZTURK, ECONOMIST FOR EMERGING EUROPE AT HSBC
"The headline Czech manufacturing PMI index edged up further in June on the back of a slight pick-up in the pace of expansion in output mainly thanks to renewed upbeat trend in export orders, reflecting the ongoing recovery in external market conditions, while a strong USD may have played a role here via increased competitiveness of the Western European production cycle, on which Czech manufacturing sector heavily depends."
"A negligible deceleration notwithstanding, the rate of job creation remained encouragingly high, in line with the recent notable decline in unemployment, although 1Q10 data points to a continued slowdown in wage growth, underlining the possibly weak private consumption over the course of 2010."
"Looking ahead, the negligible decline seen in the June EMU manufacturing PMI and the slight positive surprise in business climate in Germany suggest that near-term downside risks emanating from the EMU sovereign-debt crisis may be limited."
"However, the impact of the latter remains to be seen, particularly in the second half of the year when cyclical recovery may lose steam and the effect of a tight fiscal environment starts to kick in."
MIROSLAV FRAYER, ANALYST, KOMERCNI BANKA
"The PMI index stayed unchanged... For the future there is a risk of some economic dampening because there is a need to consolidate public finances. It is not only our problem but also a problem of the entire euro zone and the world."
"Looking at similar indicators in other countries, it shows that investors are beginning to perceive the risk of the slowdown in the economic activity in the second half of the year."
"After solid growths in past month, we can expect a moderate decline in the index... but not below the 50 percent mark that distinguishes contraction from expansion."
BACKGROUND: - Report on last Czech c.bank rate decision......[
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] [ ] - April foreign trade figures....................[ ] - April industrial output........................[ ] - First-quarter preliminary GDP data.............[ ] LINKS: - For LIVE Czech economic data releases, click on <ECONCZ> - Instant Views on other Czech data [ ] - Overview of Czech macroeconomic indicators [ ] - Key data releases in central Europe [ ] - For Czech money markets data click on <CZKVIEW> - Czech money guide <CZK/1> - Czech benchmark state bond prices <0#CZBMK=> - Czech forward money market rates <CZKFRA>** Index copyright and database rights owned by Markit: unlicensed copying strictly prohibited **
Detailed PMI data are only available under licence from Markit and customers need to apply to Markit for a licence. For further information please phone Markit on ++ 44 20 7260 2454. (Reporting by Mirka Krufova and Jason Hovet; editing by Michael Winfrey)