Less leather in Czech Republic
14/08/2007
The latest year-on-year growth figures for the Czech economy show an annual growth rate of 6.9%.
Although higher than the European Union average, the figure for the period June 2006 to June 2007 is lower than the corresponding May to May figure of 7.5%, prompting analysts to talk about a slow-down. Some say it is an indication that the best times are already over; others claim not to be worried because the 2007 period contained fewer workdays than the previous year.
However, leather’s contribution to this shift has been negative. Along with textile manufacturers and mining firms, leather companies employed fewer people. Disappointingly, this has come at a time when automotive production has increased.
The companies that increased their labour forces by the highest margin are in the plastics and rubber production sectors.
