PRAGUE, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Czech inflation is heading deep below the central bank's 2 percent target and a recession that started about a year and a half ago has hit its nadir, central bank governor Miroslav Singer was quoted as saying on Tuesday.

'At the moment, inflation is heading relatively safely but not entirely pleasantly deep below our target,' news agency CTK quoted Singer as saying.

He repeated the economy had been in recession for about eighteen months and added: 'We are probably going through the bottom of the drop. At least we think so.'

(Reporting by Jana Mlcochova; Editing by Michael Winfrey) Keywords: CZECH CBANKER/CPI

(jana.mlcochova@thomsonreuters.com)(+420 224 190 479)(Reuters Messaging: jana.mlcochova.reuters.com@reuters.net)

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