By CentralBankNews.info
Pakistan’s central bank raised its monetary policy rate for the fourth time this year, saying “further consolidation efforts are required to ensure macroeconomic stability” as the current account deficit remains high, real interest rates have fallen while oil price shocks, protectionist trade policies and falling capital flows to emerging markets pose challenges to macroeconomic management.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) raised its key rate by 100 basis points to 8.50 percent and has now raised its by a total of 275 basis points following earlier hikes in July, May and January.
SBP raised its forecast for inflation in the current 2019 fiscal year and lowered its forecast for economic growth.
Pakistan’s headline inflation rate was largely steady at 5.84 percent in August from 5.83 percent in July, but it was still the highest in almost 4 years, or since September 2014.
In the first two months of the current 2019 fiscal year, which began July 1, headline inflation averaged 5.8 percent, up from 3.2 percent in the same months last year and 3.9 percent on average during fiscal 2018, SBP said.
“The jump is even more pronounced in core inflation – a key measure reflecting the underlying inflationary pressures in the economy,” the central bank said.
SBP revised upwards its forecast for headline inflation to average 6.5 to 7.5 percent in fiscal 2019 from July’s forecast of 6.0 to 7.0 percent.
The upward revision reflects higher than expected oil prices, higher domestic gas prices, further increases in import duties and second round impacts of previous exchange rate depreciations.
In addition to rate hikes this year, the SBP has devalued the rupee four times since December 2017 in a move seen as slowing down the decline in foreign exchange reserves.
The latest devaluation was on July 16 and the rupee fell 5 percent to 128 per U.S. dollar on July 17. Since then the rupee has firmed slightly to trade at 124.5 today.
Prior to the first devaluation on December 8, the rupee was trading around 105 to the U.S. dollar which means it has depreciated some 17 percent since then.
After strong growth of 5.8 percent in fiscal 2018, up from 5.4 percent the year before, economic activity this year is likely to slow as domestic demand decelerates from fiscal consolidation and the central bank’s rate hikes work their way through the economy.
SBP lowered its forecast for growth in fiscal 2019 to around 5.0 percent from July’s 5.5 percent.
The central bank also said the current account deficit “continues to pose a challenge.
Despite growth in remittances from abroad and exports in July and August, the rise in the value of oil imports widened the current account deficit to US$2.7 billion as compared with $2.5 billion in the same year-ago period despite non-oil imports declining, SBP said.
In August Pakistan’s imports were 2-1/2 times as large as exports, resulting in a 14 percent rise in the trade deficit in August from the same month last year.
In the second quarter of calendar 2018, the current account deficit grew to US$5.798 billion, or 8.2 percent of Gross Domestic Product, up from $4.109 billion in the first quarter and a deficit ratio of 5.3 percent.
Pakistan’s total foreign exchange reserves have been declining since October 2016 and hit US$15.521 billion as of Sept. 19, according to the SBP, down 35 percent since then and down 5 percent since 16,370 billion in August.
The State Bank of Pakistan issued the following statement:
Inflation is inching up, particularly from March 2018 onwards. So far, in the first two months of FY19, headline CPI inflation has averaged 5.8 percent as compared to 3.2 percent for the corresponding months of FY18, and an average of 3.9 for all of FY18. The jump is even more pronounced in core inflation- a key measure reflecting the underlying inflationary pressures in the economy.
For FY19, SBP’s inflation projections show that the average headline inflation is expected to fall in the revised forecast range of 6.5-7.5 percent. This assessment takes stock of the following factors: (i) a higher than anticipated increase in international oil prices; (ii) an upward revision in domestic gas prices; (iii) a further increase in regulatory duties on imports; and (iv) the continuing second round impact of previous exchange rate depreciations.
Following a healthy growth of 5.8 percent in FY18, economic activity is likely to slowdown in FY19 as the general macroeconomic policy mix is focusing towards stabilization. Specifically, the transmission of SBP’s policy rate hikes by 175 bps since January 2018 is still unfolding. The government is also now pursuing a fiscal consolidation program and has further announced regulatory measures to slowdown the growing pressures on the external front. As a result, domestic demand is projected to decelerate in the coming months of FY19.
The recent monetary and fiscal measures are likely to affect Large Scale Manufacturing. Furthermore, the latest information shows that cotton production is expected to miss its FY19 target of 14.4 million bales with downside implications for agriculture sector growth. The ancillary services sector is expected to miss its FY19 target as well. Some positive impact is expected from the contribution of exports led production and higher fertilizer production amidst depleting stocks and better availability of energy. After incorporating the latest information on both demand and supply, SBP projects the real GDP growth for FY19 at around 5.0 percent.
The current account deficit continues to pose a challenge. Despite some growth in workers’ remittances and exports in the first two months of FY19, a notable increase in the value of oil imports has kept the current account deficit at US$2.7 billion, as compared to US$2.5 billion, in the corresponding period last year despite non-oil imports declining during the period. Owing to these developments SBP’s net liquid FX reserves have declined to US$ 9.0 billion as of 19th September, 2018 compared to US$ 9.8 billion at the end of FY18.
Broad money supply saw a seasonal contraction of 1.2 percent during 1st July to 14th September FY19 as compared to the contraction of 0.9 percent during the same period last year. During this period, however, Private Sector Credit (PSC) performed relatively better. The main reasons for the continuing growth of PSC involve: (i) the improved availability of energy; (ii) relatively conducive exports demand amid GSP plus status; and (iii) the higher working capital needs due to capacity additions in the last three years. Accordingly, PSC growth is expected to continue, but at a slower pace than in FY18. Similarly, monetary growth is expected to remain between 10.5 to 11.5 percent in FY19.
In light of the current and evolving macroeconomic situation discussed above, the MPC is of the view that further consolidation efforts are required to ensure macroeconomic stability and therefore has decided to raise the SBP target policy rate by 100 bps to 8.5 percent effective from 1st October 2018.”
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