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Retail sales in Czechia accelerated their year-on-year growth last November. Excluding sales and repairs of motor vehicles, turnover rose by 4.6%, up from 2.4% in October, according to the Czech Statistical Office. Online sales were the main driver of growth. Month on month, retail turnover increased by 0.8%. Sales rose across food, non-food goods and fuel. According to the statistical office, annual growth was recorded in all retail segments except stores selling computers and communication equipment and outlets focused on household goods.

Despite spending more than €2bn on digitalising public services between 2020 and 2024, Czechia has failed to meet its goals, according to the Supreme Audit Office (NKÚ). Only 18% of planned state services are fully digital, even though citizens were meant to gain the right to deal with authorities online by February last year. The watchdog cited weak project management, a lack of IT specialists, incomplete data and unclear responsibility for spending. Many services are still limited to online forms, with further processing done manually. NKÚ president Miloslav Kala warned that results remain poor despite massive investment, though he acknowledged successes such as bank identity and some online applications.

Czech Foreign Minister Petr Macinka has praised Ukraine’s defence-sector innovations and said Czechia could cooperate with the country on protection against drones. In an interview with the Ukrinform agency, Macinka said Ukraine, under pressure from war, has developed technologies that could help strengthen Czech security.  He referred to a recent visit to Ukraine, where he toured facilities producing counter-drone systems and described the country’s advances in the field as impressive. According to Macinka, cooperation could be mutually beneficial.  Macinka also said his view of Ukraine remained unchanged after the visit. He also recalled that the trip was meant as a signal that the Czech government wants to build contacts quickly. The visit followed a decision by the government of Andrej Babiš to continue coordinating the Czech ammunition initiative for Ukraine, without using Czech taxpayers’ money.

President Petr Pavel and Prime Minister Andrej Babiš (ANO) are both trusted by a small majority of the public, according to a STEM poll conducted at the start of the year for CNN Prima News. Pavel is trusted by 57% of respondents, while Babiš follows closely at 55%.

Almost two in five respondents said they trust Senate Speaker Miloš Vystrčil (ODS) and Chamber of Deputies Speaker Tomio Okamura (SPD), both at 39%. Okamura, however, also has the highest proportion of opponents among the country’s leading politicians.