Czech economy in 1998: risks and challenges

Characteristics for 1997 was a significant slowdown of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth: within the first three-quarters, GDP grew by 1.1 %, and our estimate for the whole year is 1.4 %. At the same time 1997 was a turning year with respect to some components of Gross Domestic Product. The growth rate of household consumption decreased substantially (by almost one half). After three years of very dynamic, double-digit growth of gross fixed capital formation, in 1997 investment in fixed capital was falling (a decrease of almost 5%). Government consumption practically stagnated. Growing exports were among the main components of GDP growth, especially in the second half of 1997.