• Average gross wage in the 1Q07 rose by 7.8 y/y to CZK 20,399 while real average wage rose by 6.2%. This is the fastest growth since 1Q04. • State budget reached deficit CZK 25.98bn at the end of May while deficit in the same period year ago reached CZK 12.20bn. • US Purchasing Managers index in industry increased in May to 55 against expected 54. Number of new jobs created in non-agricultural sector in May reached 157k against expectations for 135k. In the same month, unemployment rate remained flat at 4.5%. • Hungarian Prime Minister Gyurcsany estimates that his country can fulfil Maastricht criteria till 2009. Change of forint’s floating band is not on the agenda, according to PM.