Inflation
Turkey to review inflation target
The Central Bank of Turkey will consider revising its inflation target towards the end of this year, the minutes of its April rate-setting meeting show.
OECD inflation hits 3.5%
CPI inflation in the 30 member economies of the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) rose to 3.5% in the year to March, up from 3.4% the previous month.
Sri Lanka reacts as inflation hits record high
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka has lowered its reserve money targets in a bid to curb rampant inflation which soared to an all-time high in the year to April.
Interest rate gap too large, says France
Christine Lagarde, the French minister of finance, has issued a guarded warning to the European Central Bank (ECB) not to raise rates.
Reserve accumulation and price commitment
A new paper published by the International Monetary Fund finds that foreign-exchange interventions and a rapid accumulation of reserves can damage the anti-inflationary credibility of the monetary authority.
Russian central bank hints at broad tightening
Alexei Ulyukayev, the first deputy chairman of Russia's central bank, suggested on 22 April that monetary conditions may be tightened in the near future using a range of policy tools.
New Zealand softens stance
The Reserve Bank of New Zealand kept rates on hold for the eighth-straight month on Thursday but signalled it may cut in the second half of 2008.
SA inflation surpasses 10% mark
South African inflation surged to its highest level since December 2002 last month, heightening the need for the country's central bank to act against political opposition and raise rates further.
Australian inflation hits seven-year high
Australian inflation soared to its highest level since June 2001, raising expectations that the country's Reserve Bank will be forced to hike rates again next month.
Trinidad's Williams: prepare for inflation wave
Trinidadian inflation is set to surpass the 10% mark in the coming months, Ewart Williams, the governor of the central bank, warned.
Canada cuts rates half a point
The Bank of Canada lowered rates to 3% on Tuesday, a move in line with market expectations.
Ukraine raises rate 200 basis points on price fear
The National Bank of Ukraine hiked its discount rate from 10% to 12% on Monday in a bid to temper inflation.
Greek outlook worsens on central bank revisions
The Bank of Greece has downgraded its growth forecast and heightened its inflation estimate for 2008.
BoE must remain focused on inflation
Monetary policy in the UK ought to remain focused on achieving price stability as defined by the inflation target, Tim Besley, a member of the Bank of England's rate-setting committee, has said.
ECB comments push euro to fresh high
The euro surpassed the $1.60 mark for the first time in its history after European Central Bank (ECB) officials said they would act to contain rising inflation.
Mexico holds rates at 7.5%
The Bank of Mexico kept its benchmark one-day interbank rate at 7.5% for the sixth-straight month despite expectations that the US slowdown would impact Mexican growth.
Turkish inflation to exceed target this year
Turkish inflation is likely to be above the central bank's 4% target in 2008 unless there is a drastic slowdown in agflation.
Turkey holds rates, signals tightening
The Central Bank of Turkey held rates for the second-straight month on Thursday but indicated that it was more likely to raise, than reduce, borrowing costs in May.
Buba's Weber paves way for rate hike
Axel Weber, the president of the Bundesbank, has said that the European Central Bank (ECB) must "act with determination" if the recent rise in inflation begins to impact wage settlements.
Fed dissenter warns against "inflation remedy"
Richard Fisher, the president of the Dallas Federal Reserve and a voting member of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), has said that he remains strongly reluctant to cut rates.
Chief economist underlines BoE's "tricky" task
The juxtaposition of the recent shocks to both inflation and growth makes the task of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee particularly tricky, Charlie Bean, the Bank's chief economist, noted.
RBI hikes reserve ratio on back of price fears
The Reserve Bank of India has taken emergency steps to tackle burgeoning inflation just 12 days before its scheduled monetary policy meeting.
Canadian inflation falls for fourth straight month
Core inflation in Canada slumped to 1.4% in the 12 months to March, heightening expectations of a rate cut next week.
Brazil exceeds expectations with half-point hike
The Central Bank of Brazil raised rates by half a point on Wednesday to 11.75%, a move which surprised most analysts.