Interest rates
Bernanke: US inflation slowing, but risks remain
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says US core inflation "seems likely to moderate gradually over time", but there are "upside" risks to this forecast.
ECB's Papademos hints at rate rises
In one of the strongest hints at further rate rises for the eurozone later this year, Lucas Papademos, the Vice-President of the European Central Bank, said forecasts for economic growth in 2007 and 2008 are above the region's potential.
Fed announces FOMC's 2008 schedule
The US Federal Reserve, the American central bank, on 1 June announced the tentative schedule for next year's Federal Open Market Committee meetings.
Fed minutes reveal worries over inflation, housing
The minutes of the latest monetary policy meeting of the Federal Reserve contained few surprises, but underlined the fact that policymakers remained concerned about an "upward drift in inflation expectations".
Sweden's Rosenberg on interest rates
External price pressure and expectations of improvements in productivity were the reasons why Irma Rosenberg, a first deputy governor at Sweden's Riksbank, voted for rates to stay on hold at the monetary policy meeting at the start of the month, she said…
Governor's deciding vote sees Czech rates up
The Czech Central Bank raised interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point to 2.75% on 31 May. The central bank's board was split, with three members voting for the hike and three for leaving rates unchanged. It then fell to governor, Zdenik Tma, to…
Nishimura sees third quarter inflation rise
Kiyohiko Nishimura, a board member of the Bank of Japan, says inflation is likely to rise in October this year.
Canadian growth beats central bank forecast
The growth of the Canadian economy during the first quarter of this year was stronger than the central bank expected official statistic released on 31 May revealed. The upside shock appears to have sealed the case for rate hikes later this year.
UK's Blanchflower explains voting behaviour
In a speech on 30 May David Blanchflower, member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, said that he voted to raise rates for the first time since joining the MPC in June 2006 because he wanted to indicate to the public the Bank's intention…
Inflation breaches SARB's target
South Africa's targeted CPIX inflation has breached the South African Reserve Bank's 3% to 6% inflation target for the first time since August 2003.
Rates up in Norway and Malta, Poland steady
The central banks of Norway and Malta raised interest rates on 30 May, while rates remained unchanged in Poland.
The benefits of the SARB's transparency
This IMF Working Paper suggests that the increased transparency of monetary policy in South Africa since the late-1990s has helped to improve the accuracy of inflation and interest rate forecasts.
South Africa's Mboweni outlines inflation threats
Tito Mboweni, the governor of the South African Reserve Bank, has identified union-driven salary disputes and increasing food and oil prices as the main threats to the current inflation outlook in the country.
Israeli rates cut again
The Bank of Israel has cut interest rates by 25 basis points to 3.5%. The decision, announced on 28 May, comes as inflation remains below the central bank's 1 to 3% inflation target.
China hikes rates, loosens currency markets
The People's Bank of China raised interest rates for the fourth time in a year on 18 May and widened the yuan's daily trading limit against the dollar.
ECB holds rates steady
The European Central Bank held its key interest rate steady at 3.75% on 17 May, in the light of strong growth prospects but hinted that inflation is becoming a concern.
Fukui again says rates must rise
In further comments on Japan's interest rates, Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui said Thursday 17 May rates should increase gradually to support economic growth amid price stability.
BNB's Quaden says ECB will keep acting on prices
Belgian National Bank governor Guy Quaden said in an interview published Wednesday 16 May that the ECB will continue to act to lower inflationary expectations.
Code words not for King, but BoE can improve
According to this article published Thursday 10 May by Reuters, the gloss is starting to come off the Bank of England's reputation for managing interest rate expectations and keeping inflation under control.
NBH minutes show one member wanted rate cut
A single rate-setter on Hungary's 13-member Monetary Council voted in favour of a 25-basis-point rate cut at the MPC's 23 April policy meeting, the minutes published Friday 11 may showed. Changes to the Central bank Act will see a reduction in the number…
FOMC can stick again unless data changes
Without changes in economic data, the Federal Open Market Committee can leave US interest rates alone next month too, and may as well issue the same statement too, says John Berry of Bloomberg in this article published Thursday 10 May.
Trichet signals June rate rise with 'vigilance'
European Central Bank president Jean-Claude Trichet told the ECB's press conference Thursday 10 May that ``strong vigilance'' is required to contain inflation. A hint that interest rates will rise at the next meeting.
BoJ's Fukui says low rates for too long will hurt
Bank of Japan governor Toshihiko Fukui told a seminar in Tokyo Thursday 10 May that interest rates need to rise gradually despite Japanese prices responding slowly to strong global demand.
Fed hold rates but concerned on inflation
The Federal Reserve left US interest rates unchanged Wednesday 9 May and acknowledged that the economy is slowing.