Czech inflation back in single digits

June consumer prices rose 0.34% month-on-month, which translated into a drop from 11.1% to 9.7% year-on-year. Inflation in the Czech Republic is the lowest since December 2021 and the country is now the first in the CEE region to have returned to single-digit territory. Prices were pushed up in June mainly by seasonal factors in recreation prices. Otherwise, we saw a steady rise across the consumer basket.

Core inflation fell from 8.6% to 7.8% YoY with downside risk, according to our calculations. The CNB will release official numbers later today, as always. June inflation is four-tenths below the central bank's forecast, but this means a one-tenth reduction in the previous forecast deviation. Core inflation in the second quarter, by our calculations, surprised the central bank to the downside by two-tenths on average.

Looking ahead, our fresh nowcast indicator points to July inflation falling to 8.6% YoY. The pace of disinflation should thus start to slow in line with our earlier expectations. Therefore, we think today's result will not be a game-changer and the current drop in inflation will not be enough for the CNB. Today's inflation number is the last before the central bank's August meeting, including a new forecast. We expect the CNB to wait to cut rates until the November meeting with the risk of postponement until the first quarter of next year.