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In Business News this week: energy giant CEZ buys a 7% share in Hungary’s MOL and raises its profit estimate by 1.2 billion crowns; Czech Airlines agrees to sell its catering business; Skoda Auto wins Exporter of the Year award; Starbucks is coming to the Czech Republic in early 2008; and Czech beer output is set to finally cross the 20 million hectolitre mark.

In Business News this week: inflation in the Czech Republic stands at 5 percent and is set to rise further, while salaries should grow next year by almost 8 percent; unemployment is at a nine-year low of 5.6 percent; Skoda is about to start rolling out Octavias that run on alcohol, but only for the Swedish market; Seattle follows Portland’s lead and introduces Czech-made trams; sales of organic food have doubled and are set to keep doubling annually for the next couple of years; and the Czech National Bank is minting more coins, due to uncertainty

In Business News this week: GDP growth slows, but remains above 6 percent; the giant Czech anti-virus company Grisoft buys a US company providing protection from dangerous web sites; US private equity firm Warburg Pincus acquires the second most popular Czech web portal; Ikea significantly increases its sales in the Czech Republic; bakery chain Paneria is set to expand to 30 outlets; and Prima TV sells a serial to a Czech-language broadcaster in the US.

The Czech government approved an updated convergence programme for euro adoption, but still no target date in sight; The Czech National Bank board raised its key interest rate by a quarter of a percentage point to 3.5 percent and Czechs are making more money - the average wage in the Czech Republic is up by 7.6% year-on-year.

In Business News: with the Czech crown going below 18 to the US dollar, it is now exceedingly difficult for Czech firms to export to America; a new study finds the Czech tax system one of the most complicated and burdensome in the EU; Meinl European Land, owner of over 100 shopping centres in the Czech Republic, is expanding further; Heineken is reportedly hoping to acquire another slice of the Czech drinks market; and the country’s breweries are expecting a merry Christmas.

In Business News this week: As power giant CEZ announces healthy profits, analysts warn of further increases in the price of electricity; Czech Railways is now in profit after years in the red, though the company is fined for late trains by the Olomouc regional authority; increases in home prices should slow, though prices are not likely to fall; and cable company UPC now has over a million customers.

In Business News this week: Inflation is at a five-year high, with growth driven by food price increases; unemployment, meanwhile, is at a nine-year low of 5.8 percent; the cabinet is to discuss the Czech Republic's relatively low investment in science; the Czech Republic is becoming less competitive, says the EC, echoing a recent OECD report; and the first step is taken towards privatising Prague Airport.

In Business News: Russia wants to buy both Czech Airlines and Prague Airport; the Czech Republic has one of the lowest shares of women in part-time jobs in the EU; Czech textile makers sign a copyright agreement with their Chinese counterparts; a new free newspaper will target business people; and a British TV ad for the Skoda Fabia wins industry awards.

In Business News this week: the lower house approves the basic parameters of the 2008 state budget, the Czech National Bank raises its inflation forecast for next year and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development blows the whistle on aid to the Czech Republic.

In Business News this week: Czech firms are putting a lot more money into research and development following a change to the tax system; FDI flowing into the Czech Republic falls by half; a group of MPs from the two biggest parties want the government to consider building two more nuclear power stations; a report predicts huge growth in the IT sector - but will companies be able to find skilled workers?; Skoda is planning to make its Superb a little more superb.