Malawi's central bank cut its policy rate by a further 150 basis points to 14.50 percent, saying risks to inflation are expected to ease this year after last year's shocks while the kwacha is expected to remain stable as in the last two years.
The Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM), which has been lowering its rate since November 2016, also lowered its Lombard rate to 40 basis points above the policy rate from a previous 200 basis point margin, the liquidity reserve requirement (LRR) by 250 points for local currency deposits to 5.0 percent and the requirement for foreign currency deposits by 375 points to 3.75 percent.
The RBM's monetary policy committee said it was creating further room to adjust the LRR downward by incentivizing banks to invest in certain sectors and instruments.
The large cut in the Lombard rate is aimed at encouraging banks to lower their lending rates and thus boost economic growth as the past rate cuts by RBM has not been fully transmitted to the economy, the central bank said, adding it expects all commercial banks from now on to use the Lombard rate as the base lending rate.
"The Committee's assessment is that the stance of monetary policy remains adequately tight and monetary policy actions will continue to gradually anchor inflation expectations towards the medium term inflation objective of 5 percent without necessarily jeopardizing government's growth agenda," the central bank said.
The Reserve Bank has been cutting rates consistently since November 2016 and has now lowered the rate by a total of 12.50 percentage points as inflation has declined from almost 25 percent in December 2015 when two years of drought led to rocketing food prices.
Improved weather then led to better harvests and helped stabilize the exchange rate of the kwacha, which depreciated sharply from 2012 to March 2016.
Since then the kwacha has been relatively stable and traded at 736 per U.S. dollar at the end of December, largely unchanged since mid-2016, RBM said, adding adequate foreign exchange reserves, which equalled 3.61 months at the end of last year, should support the kwacha along with the agricultural marketing season that begins in the next 2-3 months.
"It is therefore projected that the exchange rate stability witnessed in the past two years will also prevail in 2019," RBM said.
Inflation in Malawi, which borders Tanzania, Zambia and Mozambique, jumped last year on the back of a 50 percent rise in electricity tariffs, a 19 percent rise in fuel prices, and an increase in maize prices of over 60 percent due to dry spells and armed conflict in some parts of the country.
Inflation rose to 10.1 percent in November from 8.1 percent in January before easing to 9.9 percent in December.
The central bank expects favorable weather so far to lead to higher agricultural output than projected, pushing down food inflation, and lowered its forecast for inflation this year to 8.5 percent from an earlier forecast of 10.1 percent.
The Reserve Bank of Malawi released the following statement by its monetary policy committee:
"MPC reduces the Policy Rate by 150 basis points from 16 percent to 14.5 percent; adjusts downwards the Lombard rate from 200 basis points to 40 basis points above the Policy rate; and cuts the Liquidity Reserve Requirement (LRR) on foreign currency deposits by 375 basis points from 7.5 percent to 3.75 percent while the LRR on local currency deposits has been reduced by 250 basis points from 7.5 percent to 5.0 percent. In arriving at this decision, the Committee observed that risks to inflation experienced in 2018 are dissipating and that the macroeconomic outlook for 2019 is favourable.
Decisions based on a forward-looking monetary policy framework.
Monetary policy decisions are based on a Forecasting and Policy Analysis System (FPAS) which is an information-intensive forward-looking framework for structured and evidence based monetary policy decision making. At the core of this framework, is a Quarterly Projection Model (QPM) which describes dynamics of demand, supply and exchange rate. Monetary policy setting is endogenous and is aimed at minimising the deviation of aggregate demand, aggregate supply as well as the exchange rate from their equilibrium positions. In setting the monetary policy stance, emphasis is placed on closing the gaps between the ReserveBank of Malawi’s projected inflation and the target. While greater emphasis in this framework is on pre-empting risks to macroeconomic outlook, a careful balance is applied to ensure that historical as well as current developments also feed into the policy process. The approach of the MPC is to look through the first-round effects and focus on the possible second-round effects of supply side shocks. The current monetary policy decisions must therefore be viewed in the context of monetary policy reforms happening at the Reserve Bank of Malawi.
Decisions based on a forward-looking monetary policy framework.
Monetary policy decisions are based on a Forecasting and Policy Analysis System (FPAS) which is an information-intensive forward-looking framework for structured and evidence based monetary policy decision making. At the core of this framework, is a Quarterly Projection Model (QPM) which describes dynamics of demand, supply and exchange rate. Monetary policy setting is endogenous and is aimed at minimising the deviation of aggregate demand, aggregate supply as well as the exchange rate from their equilibrium positions. In setting the monetary policy stance, emphasis is placed on closing the gaps between the ReserveBank of Malawi’s projected inflation and the target. While greater emphasis in this framework is on pre-empting risks to macroeconomic outlook, a careful balance is applied to ensure that historical as well as current developments also feed into the policy process. The approach of the MPC is to look through the first-round effects and focus on the possible second-round effects of supply side shocks. The current monetary policy decisions must therefore be viewed in the context of monetary policy reforms happening at the Reserve Bank of Malawi.
Risks to inflation have reduced in 2019
The year 2018 was characterised by several shocks to inflation. These shocks, which were envisaged by the Monetary Policy Committee, necessitated maintaining a relatively tight policy stance in 2018. The shocks included, electricity tariffs which were increased by around 50 percent and fuel prices which were increased by around 19 percent. Maize price rose by over 60 percent compared to 2017 levels owing to dry spells and fall army worm attacks experienced in some parts of the country. Inflation therefore mostly increased in the year, rising from 8.6 percent in 2018Q1 to 9.9 percent in 2018Q4.
Contrary to developments in 2018, risks to inflation are projected to subside in 2019. The favourable weather conditions experienced so far point to higher agricultural output than earlier projected. This is expected to significantly reduce food inflation. Furthermore, adequate foreign exchange reserves and favourable international crude oil price developments point to significantly reduced non-food inflation pressures. As a result, baseline inflation projectionsfrom the Reserve Bank of Malawi’s Quarterly Projection model have shifted downwards. Inflation is now projected to average 8.5 percent in 2019, from an earlier projection of 10.1 percent. Though inflation expectations remain relatively high, they are likely to moderate on account of earlier than expected December 2018 downturn in inflation as well as favourable prospects for macroeconomic outturn.
Global and domestic oil prices stable
Brent crude oil prices which rose to as high as US$86 per barrel in October 2018 significantly fell to about US$50 per barrel in December 2018. Forecasts suggest that crude oil prices will average around US$68.76 a barrel in 2019. Pummeled by concerns over the outlook for global demand, simmering trade tensions, increasing supply and rising inventories, crude oil prices are projected to remain relatively stable in the near term. These prospects necessitated the revision of this assumption in the Reserve Bank of Malawi’s Quarterly Projection Model(QPM) which contributed to an overall downward shift in the baseline inflation forecasts. The stable international crude oil prices, together with the projected exchange rate stability point to relatively stable domestic pump fuel prices in 2019 and hence, subdued pressure on non-food inflation.
The year 2018 was characterised by several shocks to inflation. These shocks, which were envisaged by the Monetary Policy Committee, necessitated maintaining a relatively tight policy stance in 2018. The shocks included, electricity tariffs which were increased by around 50 percent and fuel prices which were increased by around 19 percent. Maize price rose by over 60 percent compared to 2017 levels owing to dry spells and fall army worm attacks experienced in some parts of the country. Inflation therefore mostly increased in the year, rising from 8.6 percent in 2018Q1 to 9.9 percent in 2018Q4.
Contrary to developments in 2018, risks to inflation are projected to subside in 2019. The favourable weather conditions experienced so far point to higher agricultural output than earlier projected. This is expected to significantly reduce food inflation. Furthermore, adequate foreign exchange reserves and favourable international crude oil price developments point to significantly reduced non-food inflation pressures. As a result, baseline inflation projectionsfrom the Reserve Bank of Malawi’s Quarterly Projection model have shifted downwards. Inflation is now projected to average 8.5 percent in 2019, from an earlier projection of 10.1 percent. Though inflation expectations remain relatively high, they are likely to moderate on account of earlier than expected December 2018 downturn in inflation as well as favourable prospects for macroeconomic outturn.
Global and domestic oil prices stable
Brent crude oil prices which rose to as high as US$86 per barrel in October 2018 significantly fell to about US$50 per barrel in December 2018. Forecasts suggest that crude oil prices will average around US$68.76 a barrel in 2019. Pummeled by concerns over the outlook for global demand, simmering trade tensions, increasing supply and rising inventories, crude oil prices are projected to remain relatively stable in the near term. These prospects necessitated the revision of this assumption in the Reserve Bank of Malawi’s Quarterly Projection Model(QPM) which contributed to an overall downward shift in the baseline inflation forecasts. The stable international crude oil prices, together with the projected exchange rate stability point to relatively stable domestic pump fuel prices in 2019 and hence, subdued pressure on non-food inflation.
Global developments
Global growth is expected to remain broadly favourable over the near-term, but expected to moderate over the medium term while risks are tilted to the downside. Risks to the global economic developments include geo-political tensions and excessive financial market volatility. Recent communication from major central banks suggests a slower pace of monetary policy normalisation in advanced economies. In December 2018, the US Fed signalled a more gradual pace of rate hikes. Although the European Central Bank (ECB) ended its asset purchase programme in December 2018, it has indicated that monetary policy would remain largely accommodative. Closer to home in South Africa, the central bank maintained the monetary policy stance at its January 2019 Monetary Policy Committee meeting.
Exchange rate to remain stable in 2019
The nominal exchange rate continues to be stable. The Kwacha traded at K736 per US dollar at the end of December 2018, broadly unchanged since mid-2016. The stability of the Kwacha is expected to continue on the back of adequate foreign exchange reserves which at the end of December 2018 stood at 3.61 months of imports. The Kwacha’s stability will as well be buoyed by the agriculture marketing season which is expected to commence in the next two to three months. It is therefore projected that the exchange rate stability witnessed in the past two years will also prevail in 2019.
Monetary policy eased
The MPC noted significant improvement in macroeconomic outlook, operations of the interbank market and the liquidity levels in the banking system. The improvement in this market have resulted in reduced recourse of commercial banks to RBM’s Lombard facility. The Committee also noted with satisfaction that for the first time, since mid-2012, real private sector credit growth has turned positive over the past four months. The MPC therefore decided to reduce the:
Global growth is expected to remain broadly favourable over the near-term, but expected to moderate over the medium term while risks are tilted to the downside. Risks to the global economic developments include geo-political tensions and excessive financial market volatility. Recent communication from major central banks suggests a slower pace of monetary policy normalisation in advanced economies. In December 2018, the US Fed signalled a more gradual pace of rate hikes. Although the European Central Bank (ECB) ended its asset purchase programme in December 2018, it has indicated that monetary policy would remain largely accommodative. Closer to home in South Africa, the central bank maintained the monetary policy stance at its January 2019 Monetary Policy Committee meeting.
Exchange rate to remain stable in 2019
The nominal exchange rate continues to be stable. The Kwacha traded at K736 per US dollar at the end of December 2018, broadly unchanged since mid-2016. The stability of the Kwacha is expected to continue on the back of adequate foreign exchange reserves which at the end of December 2018 stood at 3.61 months of imports. The Kwacha’s stability will as well be buoyed by the agriculture marketing season which is expected to commence in the next two to three months. It is therefore projected that the exchange rate stability witnessed in the past two years will also prevail in 2019.
Monetary policy eased
The MPC noted significant improvement in macroeconomic outlook, operations of the interbank market and the liquidity levels in the banking system. The improvement in this market have resulted in reduced recourse of commercial banks to RBM’s Lombard facility. The Committee also noted with satisfaction that for the first time, since mid-2012, real private sector credit growth has turned positive over the past four months. The MPC therefore decided to reduce the:
- Policy rate by 150 basis points from 16 percent to 14.5 percent;
- Lombard Rate from 200 basis points to 40 basis points above the Policy rate;
- Liquidity Reserve Requirement as follows:
o by 250 basis points from 7.5 percent to 5.0 percent on local currency deposits; and
o by 375 basis points from 7.5 percent to 3.75 percent on foreign currency deposits.
In addition to the above decisions, the MPC also created further room for LRR downward adjustment by resolving to incentivise commercial banks that invest in designated sectors and instruments. The detailed arrangements will be announced in due course. The changes in Liquidity Reserve Requirement will result in release of substantial investible funds into the productive sectors of the economy.
The Committee further noted that previously, policy rate adjustments were not fully transmitted to the rest of the economy. In this regard, going forward, all commercial banks are expected to use the Lombard rate as the base lending rate. The Committee therefore joins the rest of the economy in expecting corresponding responses from the commercial banks and other lending institutions. These policy initiatives are expected to assist the financial sector and the private sector to harness synergies and effectively contribute to economic growth.
The Committee’s assessment is that the stance of monetary policy remains adequately tight and monetary policy actions will continue to gradually anchor inflation expectations towards the medium term inflation objective of 5 percent without necessarily jeopardising government’s economic growth agenda."
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