By CentralBankNews.info
Russia’s central bank cut its rate for the second time this year, as widely expected, as it switched to an accommodative monetary policy stance and said it was ready to cut the rate further if the situation develops as it expects.
The Bank of Russia cut its key rate by 50 basis points to 5.50 percent and has now cut the rate 75 basis points this year following a cut in February.
Since June 2019, when it began easing its policy stance in light of slowing inflation, it has cut the rate seven times and by a total of 225 basis points.
Since its last policy meeting in March, when the central bank left the rate unchanged, “the situation has changed dramatically,” the bank said, pointing to what it said was a “profound” revision of its view of economic developments and inflation trends over the next three years.
Elvira Nabiullina, the bank’s governor, said three major events had happened in the last month, including the spread of the coronavirus, which drastically slowed the global economy, a slump in oil prices, and the introduction of nation-wide restrictions to limit the spread of the virus.
Surveys show over 80 percent of Russian businesses are experiencing the influence of the pandemic and the government’s restrictions to contain the spread of Covid-19.
The combined effect of these changes is to create “material and prolonged disinflationary” effects on prices that are offsetting any temporary upward pressure on inflation from lower oil prices.
The Bank of Russia now expects Russia’s economy to contract by between 4.0 and 6.0 percent this year, a sharp change from its February forecast of 1.5 to 2.0 percent growth, mainly due to a 10 to 15 percent fall in exports.
“In these conditions, GDP will shrink year-on-year in the third and fourth quarters, that is the annual rate of economic growth will be negative,” Nabiullina said, adding:
“The economic situation will be returning by normal step-by-step,” Nabiullina said, as restrictions are gradually lifted in the second quarter and economic activity recovers in the third and fourth quarters.
However, the secondary effects will continue to manifest in the future, she cautioned, expecting economic growth of between 2.8 and 4.8 percent in 2021 and then 1.5 to 3.5 percent in 2022.
Last year Russia’s gross domestic product grew 1.3 percent after 2.5 percent in 2018.
The forecast is based on what it said was a “conservative” view of oil prices, especially this year, assuming they will slowly rise to average $25 per barrel in the fourth quarter from an average of $15 in the second quarter as the large stocks of oil will limit any price rise even if there are new OPEC+ agreements.
Next year oil prices are seen rising to an average of $35 per barrel from an average of $27 this year – sharply down from 2019’s average of $64 – and then to $45 in 2022 as global demand picks up and oil stocks decline.
The collapse in domestic and global demand will have a significant disinflationary effect, with the central bank now expecting inflation to average 3.1 to 3.9 percent this year, down from 2019’s 4.5 percent and the previous forecast of 3.5 to 4.0 percent.
Inflation in March and April will still reflect the temporary response of consumer prices to the weaker ruble and higher demand for certain products, and as of April 20, inflation was around 3.1 percent compared with 2.5 percent in March.
“Inflation expectations of households and businesses have increased, but in the face of falling demand their change will be of short-term nature,” the central bank said.
In 2021 and 2022 inflation is then seen settling at the bank’s 4.0 percent target.
After slowly rising from September 2018 to January, Russia’s ruble tumbled from February to mid-March but has been rising in the last week.
Today the ruble was trading at 74.4 to the U.S. dollar, down 16.7 percent this year.
The Bank of Russia released the following press release and statement by its governor, Elvira Nabiullina:
“On 24 April 2020, the Bank of Russia Board of Directors decided to cut the key rateby 50 bp to 5.50% per annum. Since the March Board of Directors meeting, the situation has changed dramatically. Significant restrictive measures have been introduced to combat the coronavirus pandemic both in Russia and across the world, which negatively influences economic activity. This creates material and prolonged disinflationary influence on price dynamics from the aggregate demand perspective, which offsets the effect of temporary pro-inflationary factors, including those related to the fall in oil prices. At the same time the situation in global financial markets has stabilised after a period of particularly high volatility in March. The Bank of Russia has reviewed its baseline forecast scenario and is shifting to accommodative monetary policy. According to the Bank of Russia’s forecast, given the monetary policy stance, annual inflation will reach 3.8-4.8% in 2020 and will stabilise around 4% later on. If the situation develops in line with the baseline forecast, the Bank of Russia holds open the prospect of further key rate reduction at its upcoming meetings. In its key rate decision-making, the Bank of Russia will take into account actual and expected inflation dynamics relative to the target and economic developments over the forecast horizon, as well as risks posed by domestic and external conditions and the reaction of financial markets.
Inflation dynamics this year and further on will be largely influenced by a steep decline in domestic and external demand. The drop in demand will become a significant disinflationary factor due to the current and deferred economic effect of the restrictive measures introduced to combat the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Russia and globally. Inflation expectations of households and businesses have increased, but in the face of falling demand their change will be of a short-term nature.
The influence of short-term pro-inflationary factors will be limited. Inflation dynamics data for March and April reflect a temporary response of consumer prices to the weaker ruble and the episodes of increased demand for certain product groups. In March, annual inflation rose to 2.5% (compared to 2.3% in February). According to preliminary data as of 20 April, annual consumer price growth rate was around 3.1%.
According to the Bank of Russia’s baseline forecast, given the monetary policy stance, annual inflation will reach 3.8-4.8% in 2020 and will stabilise around 4% later on.
Monetary conditions remain overall unchanged. Interest rates showed mixed dynamics across different financial market segments. The deposit and credit market largely saw a certain increase in interest rates reflecting the growth of OFZ yields in March on the back of falling prices and rising risk premiums in global financial markets. In April, OFZ yields declined, coming close to the levels observed this February. This was facilitated by the Bank of Russia’s measures to support financial stability as well as by declining volatility in global financial markets, including owing to actions taken by central banks. Lower OFZ yields create conditions for reduction in interest rates in other financial market segments. In addition, the Bank of Russia’s decision to cut the key rate along with regulatory relaxations will compensate for the tightening of monetary conditions on the back of increased risks. This measure, together with other measures implemented by the Bank of Russia, will support lending, including in the most vulnerable economic sectors.
Economic activity. The spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Russia and the restrictive measures in place to address it have combined with a drop in external demand and a further decline in the prices of oil and other export goods to make a substantial negative impact on economic activity. Based on leading indicators, including surveys, activity has seen a steep decline in both the services sector and manufacturing. Both domestic and external markets have registered a contraction in volumes of new orders. Business sentiment and expectations have both deteriorated. In this environment, Q2 GDP is set to decline; however, economic activity is expected to gradually recover as the coronavirus-linked situation normalises and restrictive measures ease both nationwide and across the world.
The Bank of Russia has substantially reviewed its baseline scenario parameters. GDP is forecast to decrease by 4-6% in 2020. The Russian economy is thereafter expected to follow a recovery path with growth predicted to total 2.8-4.8% in 2021 and 1.5-3.5% in 2022. The Bank of Russia’s baseline scenario assumes the average price of Urals of $27 per barrel in 2020 with its subsequent rise to $35 and $45 per barrel in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
The pace of economic recovery will in large measure depend on the amount and efficiency of the Government and Bank of Russia’s measures aimed at mitigating the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
Inflation risks. Disinflationary risks under the baseline scenario are substantially driven by the uncertainty as to the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Russia and globally, the scale of potential measures to fight it and their impact on economic activity, as well as on the speed of a global and domestic economic recovery once restrictive measures have been lifted.
The Bank of Russia notes a decline in short-term pro-inflationary risks related to a more considerable potential pass-through of the ruble weakening into prices, as well as to the episodes of high demand for select product categories. However, disruptions in supply chains in connection with the restrictive measures in place may put localised upward pressure on prices. Some periods of heightened volatility in global markets may well feed into exchange rate and inflation expectations.
When making its key rate decision, the Bank of Russia also considered the objective of maintaining financial stability, especially in the context of an unsteady environment in international commodity and financial markets.
If the situation develops in line with the baseline forecast, the Bank of Russia holds open the prospect of further key rate reduction at its upcoming meetings. In its further key rate decision-making, the Bank of Russia will take into account actual and expected inflation dynamics relative to the target and economic developments over the forecast horizon, as well as risks posed by domestic and external conditions and the reaction of financial markets.
In the follow-up to the Board of Directors meeting of 24 April 2020 the Bank of Russia released its
medium-term forecast.
The Bank of Russia Board of Directors will hold its next key rate review meeting on
19 June 2020. The press release on the Bank of Russia Board decision is to be published at 13:30 Moscow time.”
Statement by Bank of Russia Governor Elvira Nabiullina in follow-up to Board of Directors meeting on 24 April 2020:
Today, the Board of Directors has decided to cut the key rate by 50 bp to 5.50% per annum. This implies that we have switched to accommodative monetary policy. Moreover, we hold open the prospect of further key rate reduction if the situation develops in line with the updated baseline forecast of the Bank of Russia.
Our today’s decision is based on the profound revision of our view of economic development and inflation trends in the next three years.
Since the last Board of Directors’ revision of the key rate, three events have happened which have defined our view of the situation. They are primarily associated with the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. Firstly, this is a drastic decline in the global economy. Secondly, there has been another round of a slump in oil prices, despite the new OPEC+ deal. Thirdly, the Government has introduced nation-wide restrictions. As a result, a large number of businesses have suspended their operations or switched to the remote work mode. A lot of citizens are currently in self-isolation.
As to positive factors, I would focus on a slight stabilisation in global financial markets as compared to March, which was largely driven by measures being implemented by the central banks of reserve-currency countries.
Therefore, given all the developments, we have completely reviewed our economic forecast. Our today’s decision relies exactly on the forecast, and not on the latest statistics we are receiving. The statistics still show the previous month’s situation and cannot provide a clear view to estimate further trends. Building our forecast, we were rather taking into account leading indicators of the economic situation, including data on electric power consumption, financial flows, household spending, as well as the experience of other countries where the pandemic has been spreading for a longer period.
I will now dwell on the main assumptions behind our baseline forecast.
Our forecast relies on a conservative view of oil prices, especially in 2020. We assume that they will be slowly growing from the average level of USD 15 per barrel in the second quarter to USD 25 per barrel in the fourth quarter. There are large oil stocks accumulated, with a downfall in global demand. This will limit the recovery of oil prices, even if the new OPEC+ agreement is fully complied with. Further on, oil prices are expected to gradually rise to USD 45 per barrel in 2022 as global demand picks up and oil stock levels decrease.
Another key assumption of our forecast is the duration of the coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions implemented in Russia and abroad. Our estimates suggest that governments will be gradually lifting or considerably easing the majority of current restrictions in the second quarter. In this case, we can expect that in the third and fourth quarters economic activity will be recovering quarter-on-quarter.
The economic situation will be returning to normal step-by-step. The direct adverse impact of the restrictions primarily falls on this quarter, while their secondary effects will continue to manifest in the future. According to our surveys, over 80% of the businesses across various industries have been experiencing the influence of the coronavirus pandemic and current restrictions. Companies’ business sentiment has materially declined. It will take time to restore business processes, logistics and production chains, offset the reduction in profit and revenue, build up reserves and savings that have been used to a greater or lesser extent over the second quarter. Combined with uncertainty regarding potential changes in the external environment, this will limit production, investment and consumer activity. In these conditions, GDP will shrink year-on-year in the third and fourth quarters, that is the annual rate of economic growth will be negative.
According to the Bank of Russia’s forecast, GDP will overall decrease by 4–6% in 2020. The major contributor to this reduction will be a decline in exports that may reach from 10% to 15%. Moreover, fixed capital investment will also substantially decrease (by 6–10%) compared to the previous year. Companies will be primarily using their financial resources to restore their daily operations. Uncertainty about the prospects of domestic and external demand will be confining investment plans. The decline in production and investments will be confining the opportunities for an upturn in income. Consumer demand will be shrinking. The measures implemented by the Government and the Bank of Russia will support the economy, and specifically the most affected industries.
Economic growth in 2021–2022 will largely be recovery-type. According to our forecast, GDP will expand by 3–5% in 2021 and by 1.5–3.5% in 2022. GDP growth will be promoted by a further implementation of national projects. However, our baseline forecast factors in only the already effective budget support measures.
An upturn in the economy and domestic demand will also be driven by the easing of monetary conditions resulting from the monetary policy pursued. This will support lending, and its growth rate will rise from 3–8% this year to 6–11% in 2021–2022.The lending potential will also be maintained owing to the regulatory easing and the expansion of the Bank of Russia’s specialised refinancing instruments.
According to our estimates, the easing of monetary policy is needed to maintain annual inflation close to 4% over the forecast horizon. The slump in domestic and external demand this year will be considerably containing inflation, which induces the risk of its substantial deviation downwards from the target in 2021 and over a medium-term horizon if no additional monetary policy measures are introduced.
The disinflationary pressure of weak demand will offset the effect of temporary proinflationary factors, that is, the ruble weakening and the observed elevated demand for individual products, already this year. We believe that a rise in inflation expectations caused by the above factors will also be temporary.
We expect that the impact of limited demand on inflation will be stable and long-lasting. Given the transmission lag of monetary policy, we should take actions already now. Based on our forecast, annual inflation will reach 3.8–4.8% by the end of the year amid the easing of monetary policy, and will further on stabilise close to 4%. Moreover, we expect a reversal of inflation trends in the middle of the year. Monthly inflation in annualised terms will begin to go down, while annual inflation will still continue to rise.
As to the balance of payments, we expect that the current account balance will decline to negative values in 2020 and 2021 (to USD 35 and 18 billion respectively). This will mainly result from the slump in exports caused by the reduction in external demand and in export revenues, primarily from oil sales.
I would like to point that the temporary switch to a current account deficit is an expected effect produced by the considerable oil price downturn under the influence of the fiscal rule. Receipts from fiscal rule-based foreign currency sales make it possible to support the economy and domestic consumption. In this situation, imports are contracting to a lower degree compared to exports driven by the decline in oil prices. As a result, the current account balance will drop to negative values. In 2022, when the oil price exceeds the cut-off level, the current account balance will return to positive territory and the accumulation of reserves will be resumed via fiscal rule-based foreign currency purchases.
We do not expect a noticeable change in the private sector financial account balance over the forecast horizon. According to our estimates, the private sector financial account deficit will reduce from USD 18 billion in 2019 to USD 15 billion this year. This is linked to decline in GDP, decrease in economic revenues, as well as less possibilities for borrowing in foreign markets at the end of the first quarter — the start of the second quarter amid intensified volatility and uncertainty. Further ahead, as global markets stabilise, the potential for external bollowings will recover and this will pass through to a reduction in the private sector financial account deficit to USD 10 billion in 2021-2022.
This baseline scenario, without doubt, has many uncertainty factors. They concern both the duration of the restrictions in Russia and worldwide, and the pace of recovery of the global and Russian economies. Besides, new spikes of volatility may occur in global financial and commodity markets. Therefore, in our discussions of the key rate decision and its path, we have a proper regard to the objective of sustaining financial stability.
As I noted, the baseline forecast incorporates only the fiscal decisions already made by the Government. We assume that further on the situation may require additional decisions to support the economy. This will foster an alleviation of effects of the restrictions for households and businesses, accelerate the return of economic activity to normal, and also mitigate the risks of inflation deviation downwards from the target over the next quarters. In the course of our key rate discussions, we considered model estimates of the influence of such additional fiscal measures on GDP, inflation and the monetary policy path.
We will certainly consider possible developments in fiscal policy, in the Russian and global economies in the course of further adjustments of our baseline scenario. Nonetheless, our current analysis suggests that virtually all possible scenario variants allow for monetary policy easing, including amid a certain additional expansion of fiscal measures designed to support the economy.
The Board of Directors proceeds from the existing potential for cutting the key rateand discussed possible options at the current and next meetings. The discussion concluded that given such extraordinary developments, it may not prove sufficient to adjust our policy by employing the small-step method we used. To return inflation to the target and stabilise the situation in the economy, we may need to implement more decisive measures. At our today’s meeting we have decided to cut the key rate by 50 bp to 5.50% per annum. We continue to see the potential for the further easing of monetary policy at our next meetings.
I would also like to note that, given the key rate change, we have decided to cut from 4.0% to 3.5% per annum the interest rate under the new Bank of Russia’s SME lending support facility introduced several weeks ago. We believe this will help to additionally improve the affordability of loans for small and medium-sized enterprises, which were affected the most by hardships.
And a few words in conclusion. The current situation specifically requires timely and even forward-looking decisions so that we are able not only to curb negative trends in the economy, but also to set grounds for a faster normalisation of the economic situation after the withdrawal of the restrictions. This will influence both inflation dynamics and the economy recovery path. Therefore, the Bank of Russia is monitoring the effects of its earlier decisions promptly and on an ongoing basis, and stands ready to take further steps, both in the monetary policy sphere and in the areas of its activity.”