Czech Inflation Quickens as Central Bank Gauges Rates Cushion

Czech inflation accelerated for a second month on more expensive fuels as the central bank is expected to maintain its wait-and-see mode on interest rates when policymakers meet this week.

Consumer prices rose 2.5% from a year earlier in April, according to a flash estimate from the statistics office on Wednesday. The headline figure matched the median estimate of analysts in a Bloomberg survey. The closely watched services price growth quickened to 4.8%, holding at levels that policymakers have called elevated.