Czech Republic: Economic sentiment rises from over five-year low at 2019-end
The economic sentiment indicator, published by the Czech Statistical Office (CSO), bounced back to 93.8 in December from 93.3 in November, which had marked the lowest print since July 2014.
The business confidence index ticked up from 91.5 in November to 91.6 in December. The uptick was driven by improved sentiment in the industrial and construction sectors. Meanwhile, confidence in the trade and services sectors deteriorated noticeably in December.
Similarly, consumers turned more optimistic in December, with the consumer confidence index climbing to a four-month high of 104.8 from 102.0 in November. The increase was chiefly due to households’ reduced concerns over their financial situation and increased willingness to save ahead. Overall, consumer confidence remains well above the historical average.