The Czech Manufacturing PMI declined to 53.5 in September 2026 from 54.1 in August, coming in below market expectations of 53.9. Despite the moderation, the reading continued to indicate a solid improvement in operating conditions. Output and new orders both rose further, though their rates of growth eased compared with August, and new export sales also expanded at a slower pace.
Employment registered its strongest increase since April 2022, as firms boosted staffing to expand capacity and meet higher production requirements. Backlogs of work increased for the ninth consecutive month. At the same time, supplier delivery times lengthened at the fastest rate in three months, reflecting transportation delays, material shortages, and capacity constraints among vendors.
Input cost inflation accelerated, driven by rising energy, fuel, and supplier costs. By contrast, output-price inflation eased to its weakest level since January. Purchasing activity continued to grow, but inventories moved lower, with stocks of purchases falling for the first time since February. Overall, business confidence remained positive, although it softened somewhat.
