Corporate spending and consumer costs show rising trends

Recent economic data indicates a divergence between total corporate spending and actual purchasing activity. According to the Direct Fidoo Index, while total corporate expenditures rose by 17.7% year-on-year in September, this growth is largely attributed to an increase in the number of active corporate cards rather than increased buying volume. When adjusted for the number of active cards, transaction volume per card grew by only 0.7%, suggesting stagnant purchasing activity. This trend of rising operational costs without a corresponding increase in procurement may place pressure on profit margins and limit future investment capacity.

In the consumer sector, costs for seasonal goods related to All Souls' Day are also rising. An analysis of major retail chains shows that consumers are paying an average of 13% more for these items compared to last year. The most significant price increases were seen in artificial flower arrangements, which rose by 19%, and cemetery candles, which increased by approximately 10%. Despite retailers offering higher average discounts in promotional leaflets than in the previous year, the overall average price for the monitored assortment rose from 223 to 251 CZK.