INFLATION - Inflation rose year on year in the Czech Republic to 2.2 percent in September from 1.7 percent in August. The Czech Statistical Office attributed the growth primarily to a 21.6 percent increase in the prices of automotive fuels, the fastest year-on-year growth in five years.

UNEMPLOYMENT - Consistent with expectations from economic experts, the country's jobless rate fell to 8.8 percent in September from 8.9 percent in August, the Labor and Social Affairs Ministry said Oct. 10. The number of unemployed people reached 503,396, a decrease of 1,858 from the end of August, according to the ministry.

AIRLINE - Turkish Airlines, one of Europe's fastest-growing carriers, recently celebrated its fifth anniversary in the Czech Republic by adding a fifth destination out of Prague this month and lower winter fares. Travelers can now fly from Prague via Istanbul to 79 destinations across the world. A round-trip economy fare to Istanbul is advertised as 4,990 Kc ($200) and business travelers can purchase a half-price business-class companion ticket.

TENDERS - Ceská konsolidacní agentura, the state-run bailout agency, has ended two public tenders related to the sale of assets of Aero Vodochody, according to media reports. In the tender for financial adviser, Deloitte offered 4.7 million Kc compared with 13.5 million Kc by Ceská sporitelna's CDI Corporate Advisory. International law firm Linklater's offered the largest bid in the tender for legal adviser with 6.9 million Kc.

GAP - The Czech Republic has one of the world's lowest income gaps between rich and poor, according to an analysis by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. One-fifth of the poorest people in the Czech Republic own 10.3 percent of the country's overall wealth. The wealthiest 20 percent of households own 36 percent.