AUTO - Škoda Auto has completed development of a new model that will be the successor to the popular Škoda Fabia. The new model, which Škoda says has a more daring design than the Fabia, is being fine-tuned and could appear on the market as early as 2007, according to media reports.

TENDER - More than 60 companies have shown interest in the tender for a new electronic toll system since it was announced July 20. The contract is expected to be worth approximately 11 billion Kč ($439.3 million), and companies must place their bids by Sept. 16. The winner of the tender will operate the system until 2017.

GIFTS - Czech companies exported tens of millions of dollars worth of glassware and other items classified as gifts to America last year, CzechTrade announced July 22. The agency believes domestic glassmakers should focus their attention on America, where officials believe there is a huge demand for gifts. "Americans are crazy about high-quality craftwork from Europe, and Czech glass is a trademark that sells well," said Ivana Ingramová, head of CzechTrade's office in Chicago, Illinois.

STATIONS - The Czech division of the British retail chain Tesco Stores plans to open a network of gasoline stations here, Lidové noviny reported July 22. Despite only operating approximately 35 of the country's 2,500 filling stations, hypermarkets are able to compete with other retailers by offering lower prices, the paper reported.

PRICES - Farmers are complaining that prices offered for this year's grain harvest are 25 percent below production costs and could result in a loss of as much as 7 billion Kč ($280 million) in revenue, according to Jan Veleba, president of the Agricultural Chamber. Dealers have said last year's record harvest, some of which still hasn't been sold, has pushed prices down.

LIVING - The Cabinet approved a measure July 20 to lower the minimum subsistence level from 4,300 Kč a month to 2,870 Kč for a single individual while at the same time creating subsidies for housing and living expenses. Shadow Labor Minister Alena Páralová, representing the senior opposition Civic Democrats, said the measure would complicate the social benefits system and not result in any spending cuts.

PENSION - Milada Staňková replaced Václav Křivohlávek as head of the Finance Ministry's office responsible for overseeing insurers and pension funds July 21. Křivohlávek had been in charge of the section, which has had the power to grant business licenses to insurers and pension funds since its creation in 1993.

DEBT - A growing number of people are borrowing money to pay for old loans, TV Nova reported July 25, referring to data from the Solus association, which monitors the issue. As many as 8 percent of loan applicants apply for this reason, and 25 percent try to ask for a loan repeatedly.