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In today's Business News: Czech living standards are improving, but many households are also struggling with debt; Czech uranium mines are looking to attract new investment; over one hundred thousand vehicles have already been registered in the new road-toll system, and this week's snowfall costs CSA millions of Czech crowns in lost sales.

In Business News this week: the Czech Republic's leading retailers enjoy a big increase in sales; government incentives attract a major increase in inward investment, soft drinks manufacturer Kofola branches out into food supplements, and the Czech government could face sanctions from the European Commission for failing to impose a 48-hour working week.

Coming up in this week's business news, a fourth mobile operator for the Czech Republic? Czechs emerge unscathed from Russia's spat with Belarus over oil supplies. Anheuser Busch and Budejovicky Budvar sign a US distribution deal despite their ongoing "Budweiser" trademark war. All that and much more in this week's business news.

In business news this week, high-ranking government officials face jail for accepting illegal perks from energy giant CEZ. The Czech Republic's budget deficit for 2006 is far higher than expected. The governor of the Czech central bank criticises the euro adoption criteria, and an increasing number of foreigners are being recruited to work in the Czech Republic.

In Business News this week: days before the introduction of a new electronic truck tolling system on Czech motorways, many haulage companies are unprepared; Czechs sent a record number of SMS and MMS messages on Christmas Eve; an estimated 100,000 Czechs are going on sun holidays this winter; as rent deregulation fast approaches, not all residents know how much more they are going to have to pay; and electricity prices are going up while gas prices are falling - at least for now.

CSA's financial plans revealed. Losses at the Checkout. Ceske Drahy agrees to wage hike. UPC-Karneval merger approved. State debt grows. Czechs Leaders in SMS Giving.

Coming up in this week's business news, the lower house approves the budget but the Finance Minister votes with his feet; Czech exporters issue a cry for help as the crown continues to soar; parliament postpones the introduction of a new law on sick pay; the Transport Ministry reaches agreement with Austrian company Kapsch over the new motorway toll system; Czech building societies report a substantial rise in loans and Nigeria considers buying around a dozen L-159 subsonic fighters from the Czech Republic.

In Business News this week: Finance Minister Vlastimil Tlusty comes up with a controversial plan to circumvent a rise in VAT on construction work; the first issue of government bonds maturing in 30 years is heavily over-subscribed; another company considers suing the Czech state over the tender to introduce a lorry toll system - just weeks before it is due to begin; trade with Poland is thriving, and should rise further with Schengen enlargement; and an unusual order could help preserve the lace-making tradition of one south Bohemian town.

In Business News: Czech oil giant Unipetrol is fined by the European Commission; the Czech Republic says no to a proposed EU tax hike on beer; the Czech crown soars against the dollar, euro; Skype announces plans to come to Prague; and more.

In Business News: Radiokomunikace fetches the highest price ever recorded in the purchase of a private company in this country; the strategically important state company Skodaexport is to be put up for sale; Skoda Auto produces its 500,000th car this year; the transport minister casts doubt on the ability of Kapsch to launch on time an electronic toll system for trucks; environmentalists strike an "historic" deal with Hyundai; and how much do you think the average Czech is planning to spend this Christmas?