Inflation in the Czech Republic slowed considerably in January to a 16-month low of 1.9 percent. This was down from 2.4 percent in December 2012, according to figures from the Czech Statistics Office. The result fell short of forecasts of both the Central Bank (2%) and the Bloomberg survey of 12 analysts, who have put the rate at 2.1 percent. Consumer prices rose 1.3 percent from December, partly due to a sales-tax increase. The slow-down came on the back of weak consumer demand due to government austerity measures.
