Monetary Policy
Inflation and fiscal deficit force Pakistan to act
The State Bank of Pakistan has raised its benchmark rate by a full percentage point to 13% in a bid to combat rampant inflation, and a worsening fiscal deficit.
OECD inflation soars to eight-year high
CPI inflation in the 30 countries that comprise the OECD surged to its highest level since March 2000 in the year to June, data published Tuesday revealed.
Inflation too high - Fed's Plosser
Inflation is already too high and inconsistent with the Federal Reserve's goal of price stability, said Charles Plosser, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.
Turkey adjusts inflation forecast
Significant increases in the prices of oil and food led to an upward revision in the inflation forecast and mean further monetary tightening will be needed, according to the latest inflation report from the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey.
Fed's Mishkin proposes communications changes
Frederic Mishkin, an outgoing governor of the Federal Reserve, believes the central bank needs to make a raft of improvements to its communication policy.
Research suggests Sarkozy's ECB ire unjustified
Though it is unlikely to placate Nicolas Sarkozy, France's president, new research has found the European Central Bank (ECB) is more transparent than the national central banks of the eurozone members were before the introduction of the euro.
Israel continues to hike despite inflation dip
The Bank of Israel will raise its benchmark rate to 4% in August in spite of signs price pressures are easing.
Brazil's Lula defends central bank's independence
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the president of Brazil, has underlined his support for the central bank's autonomy after the institution decided last week to make its biggest rate hike in more than five years.
BoE's Bean on the inflation threat
Charles Bean, a deputy governor at the Bank of England, has explained how the Bank is trying to balance upside and downside risks to inflation against each other.
Some preconditions for inflation targeting
The main macroeconomic preconditions for adopting an inflation-targeting regime are high levels of financial development, GDP per person and trade openness, finds a new paper from the Central Bank of Chile.
Japanese inflation spikes to 1.9%
Annual core inflation in Japan soared by almost half a point in the year to June to 1.9%, up from 1.5% the previous month.
ECB's Liebscher: we could hike again
Klaus Liebscher, the governor of the National Bank of Austria and a member of the European Central Bank's (ECB) rate-setting council, said rates could rise again in the coming months.
New Zealand surprises with rate cut
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand on Thursday cut the benchmark official cash rate a quarter point to 8%.
Koruna's climb hampering economy: CNB officials
Zdenek Tuma, the governor of the Czech National Bank, and Mojmir Hampl, a member of the central bank's rate-setting board, have warned that the appreciation of the koruna is damaging the country's economy, prompting speculation that the central bank will…
Brazil shocks markets with rate spike
The Central Bank of Brazil on Wednesday confounded analysts' expectations, opting to increase its benchmark Selic rate by 75, not 50, basis points.
Two regional Feds pushed for discount rate rise
Directors of two regional Federal Reserves called for a quarter-point increase to the discount rate last month, it emerged Tuesday.
BoE MPC split three ways on July vote
The scale of the Bank of England's monetary-policy dilemma was underlined on Wednesday when the minutes of the July rate-setting meeting revealed a three-way split.
Inflation in industrial countries "global"
A new paper published by the Chicago Federal Reserve shows that inflation in industrialised countries is largely a global phenomenon.
Sarkozy challenges ECB's accountability
Nicolas Sarkozy, the president of France, is reported to be preparing proposals designed to increase the European Central Bank's (ECB) accountability.
Ghana raises rates to combat record inflation
The Bank of Ghana raised rates by a full percentage point on Monday as spiralling oil and food prices drove inflation to a three-year high of 18.4%.
Solomon Islands wait on Hou replacement
The delay in appointing a new governor before Rick Houenipwela leaves in August is causing concern at the Central Bank of the Solomon Islands, according to local media reports.
Mexico looks to squeeze above-target inflation
The Bank of Mexico lifted rates for the second straight month on Friday in a bid to slow inflation which was risen to 5.26% as a result of surging oil and food prices.
Poor central banks suffer on inflation
Weak central bank finances have a negative impact on the ability of policymakers to effectively react to inflationary pressures, according to new research from the International Monetary Fund.
Keep wages low, Trichet warns eurozone bosses
Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank (ECB), has urged euro-area employers to avoid raising wages and prices for services on the back of higher oil and food costs.