Czech Republic: 2026 Article IV Consultation-Press Release; Staff Report; Staff Supplement; and Statement by the Executive Director for the Czech Republic

The 2026 Article IV Consultation discusses that the Czech economy expanded in 2025, driven primarily by domestic demand. Growth was robust, averaging an estimated 2.6 percent as real wages continued to recover, supporting consumption, while public investment benefited from strong EU funds absorption. A high concentration of trading partners and export products, especially in key manufacturing segments, raises sensitivity to shifts in demand, trade policies, and sector-specific shocks. High energy intensity raises exposure to price volatility. Adverse demographic trends constrain labor supply and weigh on medium-term growth. Supported by a moderately expansionary 2026 budget, growth is projected to remain robust this year, closing the output gap, before gradually moderating over the medium term. Policies should combine prudent demand management with more decisive supply-side structural reforms. The IMF staff assess the current monetary policy stance as broadly appropriate. Monetary policy should remain on hold in the near term, unless incoming data, including wage developments or changes in fiscal policy, materially alter the inflation outlook.