Inflation
South Africa raises interest rate
SOUTH AFRICA - The South African Reserve Bank on Thursday made a one percentage point increase in the country's prime interest rates in an effort to force inflation below 6 per cent.
OECD backs Norway's central bank policy
NORWAY - The Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) urged Norway on Friday to resist the temptation of spending any more of its vast oil revenues and leave interest rates high to keep inflation in check.
Eurozone CPI rises above ECB ceiling
GERMANY - Consumer price inflation in the eurozone rose above the European Central Bank's 2 per cent ceiling in August, weakening any hopes of a rate cut in the near future.
SARB inflation target seen as out of reach
SOUTH AFRICA - Consumer inflation surprised on the upside last month, fuelling expectations that the Reserve Bank's targets for next year are getting out of reach, though Business Day reports economists said they did not expect interest rates to rise…
Romania c bank says inflation targeting off course
ROMANIA - Romania's National Bank (BNR) does not have all the necessary means to assume responsibility for attaining a clear inflation target, read the conclusion of a BNR study drafted by the bank's specialists, and coordinated by vice-governor Cristian…
Central Bank of Brazil Working Paper Series
RESEARCH - Optimal Monetary Policy, Gains from Commitment, and inflation persistence by Andre Minella, Central Bank of Brazil, August 2002.
O'Neill sees growth, zero inflation
US - U.S. Treasury Secretary Paul O'Neill has said that the U.S. economy was set to exit 2002 in good shape with inflation benign, but exhorted corporate executives to help revitalize the economy by setting an example of honesty and integrity.
Surprise rise for UK inflation seen
UK - UK inflation has risen higher than expected, casting doubt on the need for another interest rate cut.
Thailand's central bank in upbeat mood on economy
THAILAND - The Bank of Thailand is confident that deflation will not be an immediate concern. M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula, the central bank governor, said the prevailing exchange rate of about 42.5 baht to the US dollar would not trigger inflation either.
ECB Working Paper Series
RESEARCH - The rationality of consumers' inflation expectations: survey-based evidence for the euro area, by M. Forsells and G. Kenny, August 2002. The results suggest consumers' inflation expectations in the euro area satisfy an intermediate rather that…
Bank of England Inflation Report, August 2002
REPORT - The Bank of England on Wednesday published its Inflation Report for August 2002. The Bank expects inflation to remain below the government's 2.5 per cent target for the whole of the next two years, according to the quarterly Inflation Report…
Central bank to analyse inflation fall in Thailand
THAILAND - The Bank of Thailand will look at why inflation has declined in recent months, according to Bandid Nijathaworn, an assistant governor.
Euro-zone inflation climbs to 1.9 per cent in July
BELGIUM - Inflation in the 12-nation euro zone edged up to 1.9 per cent in July compared with the same month in 2001, the statistics body Eurostat reported on Wednesday, citing provisional figures.
Two Fed nominees move towards Senate approval
US - Two highly regarded nominees for key policymaking spots on the U.S. Federal Reserve, including one with strongly held views on inflation targets, sped easily through a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
Mexican economy 'set for strong recovery'
MEXICO - Mexico's central bank governor said Monday the bank had set an inflation target of 3 per cent for next year and predicted a strong recovery for the country's economy.
Cullen calls for RBNZ to copy Australia's c bank
NEW ZEALAND - Finance Minister Michael Cullen has called for New Zealand's central bank to model itself on the Reserve Bank of Australia, which pursues a 2-3% inflation target.
Bank of Canada, Monetary Policy Report Update
REPORT - Bank of Canada, Monetary Policy Report Update, July 2002. The report projects economic growth for Canada in the range of 3 to 4 per cent to the end of 2003. The report also says the Bank is committed to achieving the 2 per cent target for…
Lower inflation in Australia
AUSTRALIA - Australia's second-quarter inflation figure has come in slightly lower than expected at 0.7 per cent, reducing the chances of another increase in interest rates next month.
IMF Survey, July 2002
REPORT - In the latest issue of its survey the International Monetary Fund announce the advisory panel appointed for Argentina, discuss the outlook for the euro-area economy and report on a Working Paper, Making the transition to inflation targeting.
SA experts - Inflation targeting needs propagation
SOUTH AFRICA - While the Reserve Bank's inflation targeting is an appropriate and essential programme, it still is in need of more public knowledge and communication among the majority of South Africans, a gathering of professionals decided on Friday.
Euro did cause price prices - Eurostat
GERMANY - The changeover to euro banknotes and coins might have added as much as 0.2 percentage points to eurozone inflation in the first half of this year, Eurostat, the European Union's statistical agency, said on Wednesday.
BofE chief George saved from letter to chancellor
UK - The prospect of an imminent rise in interest rates receded yesterday after an unexpectedly sharp fall in underlying inflation to its lowest level for at least 27 years.
Zero-inflation man debates fine points at U.S. Fed
ARTICLE - He was a loyal foot soldier in a decades-long inflation battle, vowing to seek a total victory that left no sign of the enemy. But now that some say the war is won, he finds himself debating the finer points. St. Louis Fed President William…
Speech by Eva Srejber of Sveriges Riksbank, 9 July
SPEECH - In the speech titled 'Inflation targeting and bubbles' Srejber said "there are many indications that the real economy effects of the severe stock market fall will be limited". But cautioned that, "it is not possible to write off the risk of…