Bank of Jamaica holds policy rate

BANK of Jamaica (BOJ) on Friday last announced its decision to hold the policy interest rate, the rate offered to deposit-taking institutions on overnight placements with BOJ, unchanged at 0.50 per cent per annum.

In a release, the Bank of Jamaica said it has kept the policy rate at the historic low of 0.50 per cent based on its assessment that inflation will generally continue to remain within the target of 4.0 per cent to 6.0 per cent over the next two years, notwithstanding the temporary impact on agricultural prices from the recent rains. This accommodative monetary policy, it said, is aimed at supporting a recovery in economic activity. BOJ also proactively implemented a number of initiatives aimed at preserving financial sector stability and ensuring the continued smooth functioning of the foreign exchange market. Acccording to the release, the economic outlook for Jamaica remains uncertain in the context of the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, but the BOJ remains cautiously optimistic as it continue to assess and monitor new developments as they emerge.

INFLATION

“With the exception of the month of June, headline inflation has remained within the target range since the beginning of 2020. Annual headline inflation at November 2020, as reported by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, declined to 4.3 per cent from 5.0 per cent at October 2020. Underlying or core inflation, which measures the change in prices excluding agricultural food and fuel prices, was 3.4 per cent at November 2020, below the 3.6 per cent at October 2020,” the release said.

Bank of Jamaica’s current assessment remains broadly in line with projections communicated in November 2020, that inflation will average 5.3 per cent over the next two years and will, for the most part, track within the target range of 4.0 per cent to 6.0 per cent, the release stated. This forecast was mainly predicated on expectations for an uptick in agricultural food prices given the flood rains in October and November 2020, higher international commodity prices and expectations for increases in some regulated utility prices. Core inflation was expected to remain relatively low given the weak demand conditions in Jamaica.

According to the BOJ, the risks to the inflation forecast are balanced. Factors that could cause the inflation rate to be higher than forecasted include:

(i) higher than anticipated inflationary pressures from food prices over the next three months and

(ii) stronger than anticipated increases in international oil and grains prices.

However, inflation could be lower than forecasted if demand conditions are weaker than projected.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITY

Bank of Jamaica is forecasting a contraction in the economy in the range of 10.0 per cent to 12.0 per cent in FY2020/21 before partially recovering within the range of 3.0 per cent to 6.0 per cent in FY2021/22. The projected decline in real gross domestic product (GDP) in FY2020/21 is expected to be mainly reflected in hotels & restaurants; transport, storage & communication; other services, manufacturing and construction. These expected declines are largely based on the adverse impact of the global pandemic on travel, production, distribution and entertainment activities.

The bank’s current assessment suggests that the risks to the GDP forecast are skewed to the downside, which implies that the recovery in GDP over the next two years could be slower than expected. The main reason for this assessment is the continued adverse impact of COVID-19 restrictions on economic activity. However, on the upside, there is the possibility of a faster-than-expected pace of recovery in the economy if the pandemic is effectively contained or a vaccine becomes widely available.

MONETARY POLICY

The heightened challenges associated with the novel coronavirus outbreak remain an ongoing concern and Bank of Jamaica has maintained an accommodative monetary policy stance aimed at supporting a speedy economic recovery once this crisis has passed. Bank of Jamaica remains committed to ensuring that inflation remains low and stable, within its target and, at the same time, is prepared to take all necessary actions to ensure that Jamaica’s financial system remains sound.

The bank intends to maintain this monetary policy stance until there are clear signs that economic activity in Jamaica is returning to PRE-COVID-19 levels.

The next policy decision announcement date is February 16, 2021.