Czech inflation steady at 2.7 percent in March, retail sales continue to grow

Inflation in the Czech Republic remained at 2.7 percent in March, unchanged from February, according to preliminary data from the Czech Statistical Office. While food prices accelerated, with unprocessed food rising by 9.3 percent, energy prices fell more sharply by 4.9 percent. Without the drop in energy prices, overall inflation would have reached 3.8 percent. Analysts had expected inflation to slow to 2.4 percent. Meanwhile, Czech retail sales rose by 3.8 percent year-on-year in February, driven mainly by internet sales and fuel. Online sales jumped by 13.2 percent, while sales of household goods and clothing declined.