News

Spotlight issue

30th October 2023 / Competitiveness / Macroeconomic Indicators, Economic Growth


State of Grocery in Central Europe 2023: The battle for the new shopper

Central European retailers and manufacturers must reassess their offerings to effectively meet customer demands and shrinking budgets, focusing on perceived price attractiveness and store formats.

Looking back at 2022

The outlook for 2022 given pandemic-related inflation was rather pessimistic. In the 2022 McKinsey & Company CEO Survey of 57 European grocery leaders, 60 percent foresaw worsening market conditions. Time has proven them right, yet they underestimated the extent of economic challenges, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine intensified negative trends, pushing food and energy inflation beyond expectations, and driving consumer preference for cheaper options. Rising inflation surpassed per capita disposable income growth, squeezing household budgets; Central European disposable income increased 10 percent over four years, while 2022's food inflation hit 15 percent. Grocery sales in major Central European markets grew only 4 percent in 2022, down from 9 percent in 2021 due to Ukraine, with similar trends affecting the wider EU retail market (Exhibit 1).

30th October 2023 / Competitiveness / Technology, R&D and Innovation


42% of tech pros will have left their job by 2024

Are you struggling to retain your top tech people?

'Inside Tech Talent' includes comparable data across 20 #EMEA countries, so you can discover what matters most to in-demand #tech professionals.

Access the report here: https://shorturl.at/uCKVZ

23rd October 2023 / Competitiveness / Tax & Finance


Government Consolidation Package 2024: What changes will affect your business?

The most important tax change for 2024 - the government's consolidation package - was approved in its third reading in the Chamber of Deputies on 13 October. PwC's tax experts take the opportunity to analyse the various areas of change in detail.

19th October 2023 / Competitiveness / Transport, Infrastructure and Tourism


Technology cooperation for aviation fuels of the future

 Lufthansa Airlines, DLR, Airbus, MTU Aero Engines and Munich Airport sign Letter of Intent for research cooperation on Power-to-Liquid aviation fuel
- SAF technology of the future: Power-to-Liquid process particularly promising from an environmental and scaling perspective
- Sustainable Aviation Fuels are essential for reducing aviation emissions

Strategic Directions for Czech Economic Policy

  1. Transition to High-Tech Manufacturing and Exports
  2. The City Campus as Idea Factory
  3. Government Programs and Processes That Drive Innovation
  4. Government as a Competitive Advantage, including Digitization

Advocacy Priorities for 2023 
 
Technology, People, Infrastructure

 

Actions Recommended in Areas:

1. Establishing Policy Objectives for Research.

2. Research Investment and Cooperation. Big Bets (Key Technology Projects).

3. Establishing Databases for Tracking Public Policy Outcomes.

4. Public Procurement as an Innovation Tool.

5. Immigration of STEM Talents.

6. Digitization of Immigration. 

7. Adult Reskilling and Upskilling.

8. Digitization of Land Use.

9. Infrastructure Development, including Technology Parks.

 

 

Read the documents in English and Czech.

Policy pipeline

In Policy Pipeline policy developments in the Czech Republic and abroad are monitored to bring better understanding of current topics and trends.

Members of the American Chamber of Commerce in the Czech Republic