The infrastructure market has high hopes for Central and Eastern European countries, whose economies are currently experiencing strong economic growth, according to the CMS Infrastructure Index: A New Direction, which this year ranks 40 jurisdictions in order of infrastructure investment attractiveness according to six key criteria. Countries in the CEE region claimed six of the top 20 spots for infrastructure investment attractiveness, with the Czech Republic leading the pack at no 13 in the table. Longstanding government support for infrastructure spending and the highly anticipated programme to modernise its train stations, with €384m allocated to the scheme, has contributed to the Czech Republic’s allure.

The Czech Statistical Office (CZSO) confirmed its preliminary estimate of domestic GDP growth at 0.5% qoq and 5.0% yoy. The favourable dynamics were mainly thanks to private consumption, which increased 0.9% qoq (+4.4% yoy). Households benefit from a low unemployment rate, which improves its low every month, and sound wage growth. Moreover, consumers remain optimistic as there are no signs that the good times will come to an end anytime soon. This is also mirrored in investment activity. Businesses adjust to growing demand for output amid a stretched labour market, where it is almost impossible to find a suitable work force. Thus, they invest in a way that they do not have to hire too many personnel for their new facilities or they can free up some labour force when renewing existing facilities. Investment has thus remained at a sound level from the second quarter. In yoy terms, investment growth prints at 7.5%. Moreover, it seems there is more unfinished investment as inventory built contributed 1pp to overall GDP growth.