The Czech economy has contracted for the sixth quarter in a row. It is the longest recession in the history of the country. According to preliminary data released by the Czech Statistical Office, Czech GDP in the first quarter of 2013 dropped 0.8% from the previous quarter, and decreased by 1.9% from the same period in 2012. Experts expected a less dramatic economic slowdown. The decrease in the first quarter of 2013 was driven above all by a drop in foreign demand and uneven tax collection.
