Inflation
Bank of Japan official reaffirms rate hike path
BoJ’s journey to policy normalisation continues as wage growth stays strong
Fed can afford to wait on rates, say regional heads
Atlanta and Chicago presidents say uncertainty over economy means it’s too soon to talk of more cuts
CNB study highlights AI’s limits as inflation forecasting tool
Bank says tech can help analysts, but is not yet capable of replacing traditional predictive models
Trump reverses course on Fed decision
US president says central bank was right to hold rates in January
Annual inflation in Turkey falls, but monthly inflation surges
Independent body estimates actual figure to be much higher than official statistics
Colombia unexpectedly holds policy rate
Central bank pauses easing cycle as minimum wage hike complicates inflation dynamics
Argentina cuts rates by 300bp to 29%
Central bank will also slow peso’s monthly devaluation rate, starting from next week
Brazil again raises rates by 100bp
BCB signals further rises amid persistently high inflation and lingering concerns over public finances
Fed holds rates amid pressure from White House
Powell says he has had no contact with Trump since president said he would “demand” easing of policy
Sri Lanka holds rates amid persistent deflation
Central bank expects price falls to intensify owing to cuts in electricity tariffs
Central banks need to step up their crisis management plans
Patrick Honohan argues that robust preparation can better protect reputations in the event of a crisis
Trump’s rate cuts ‘demand’ spells trouble for Fed – economists
Comments will cause problems for central bank and threaten its independence, academics claim
Book notes: Central bank capitalism: monetary policy in times of crisis, by Joscha Wullweber
This book asks if independent monetary policy is feasible at a time when central banks prop up the poorly regulated shadow banking sector
Singapore eases monetary policy for first time since 2020
Central bank slows exchange rate appreciation as core inflation falls and trade concerns loom
BoJ raises policy rate to highest level since 2008
Policy-makers raise inflation forecasts and signal further rate rises
Immigration reduces inflation in US – IMF paper
But immigrants put upward pressure on house prices, study finds
Norges Bank says time is not yet right for easing
Central bank holds rates, but suggests cut is likely in March
Inflation uncertainty spills over into US – Fed study
Lack of clarity over input costs and interest rates leads to lower levels of investment, study finds
Bank Negara Malaysia holds policy rate
Central bank has left key rate unchanged for 20 months against backdrop of strong growth
Large firms drive inflation in advanced economies – BIS study
Analysis of barcode scanner data finds pricing decisions by individual companies have outsize impact
2025 capital market expectations: slowing but not sinking
Monetary policy is the governor of the relationship between growth and inflation
Bank Indonesia delivers surprise rates cut
Central bank shifts focus from backing rupiah to supporting growth with 25bp easing
BoJ to discuss whether to raise rates, deputy governor says
Himino Ryozo says policy-makers need to monitor wage growth and future US policies