Czech Industry thriving

According to the Czech Statistical Office (CSU) Czech industrial output rose 9.9 % in 2004, up from 5.8 % a year earlier – this constitutes the best result since 2001.

Strong growth in the manufacture of electrical and optical equipment (which has demonstrated 27.3% growth year on year), transport equipment (up 22.8%), and rubber and plastic products (up 17.9%) contributed to the increase of total sales in industry. By contrats, drops were seen in the mining and quarrying of materials intended for energy creation and the manufacturing of leather and textile products.

The average monthly nominal wage in industry stood at CZK 18,870 (€639) in December, an increase of 4.6 % from the previous year. Labour productivity, which is measured as sales per employee, was up 8.9 %.