The Bank of Israel keeps the interest rate for June 2012 unchanged at 2.5
percent
Bank of Israel Office of the Spokesperson and Economic Information
28.05.2012
http://www.boi.gov.il/press/eng/120528/120528bicdz.htm
Inflation data: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.9 percent in
April, in line with forecasts and in line with the seasonal path consistent
with achieving the inflation target. The rise in the CPI was due mainly to
increases in housing and energy prices, in particular the increase in
electricity prices. The rate of inflation over the previous twelve months
has been stable near the center of the inflation target range (1–3 percent)
for the last four months; in April the figure was 2.1 percent, and excluding
housing and energy, it was 0.1 percent.
Inflation and interest rate forecasts: Forecasts of the rate of inflation
over the next twelve months are based on the average of forecasters'
inflation predictions, on expectations calculated from the capital markets
(break-even inflation), and on inflation expectations based on
over-the-counter CPI futures contracts offered by banks. Forecasts declined
this month, primarily after the announcement of the April CPI, and reached
2.2 –2.3 percent, compared with 2.5 percent in the previous month. Inflation
expectations for the coming two to three years declined somewhat, and were
stable for longer terms. Expectations for terms greater than two years are
now 2.4–2.6 percent. Expectations for the Bank of Israel interest rate one
year from now, based on the Telbor (Tel Aviv Inter-Bank Offered Rate)
market, as calculated from the makam yield curve, and the average of
forecasters' predictions range from 2.4 percent to 2.6 percent. Most
forecasters predict that the Bank of Israel interest rate will remain
unchanged for the next three months.
Real economic activity:According to indicators of real economic activity
that became available this month, as well as National Accounts data for the
first quarter of 2012, GDP continued to grow in the first quarter at a
similar rate to that of the second half of 2011, a rate of growth which is
consistent with the Bank of Israel's growth forecast for 2012 of 3.1
percent. A preliminary estimate of National Accounts data for the first
quarter indicates that GDP grew by 3 percent (in annual terms), compared
with growth of 3.2 percent in the previous quarter; business sector product
grew by 2.8 percent, compared with 3.5 percent in the previous quarter;
private consumption grew by 4.2 percent, compared with 0.2 percent in the
previous quarter; fixed capital formation increased by 6.2 percent compared
with 6.7 percent in the previous quarter; exports (excluding diamonds)
increased 17.7 percent, compared with a decline of 3.9 percent in the
previous quarter. (It should be noted that preliminary quarterly National
Accounts estimates are volatile, and are subject to significant revisions.)
The Composite State of the Economy Index for April increased 0.2 percent,
and the indices for the previous two months were revised downward. The
Central Bureau of Statistics survey of business trends indicates some
slowdown in the improvement in activity in April. With that, companies'
expectations reported in the survey and "climate indices" derived from it
for May and June regarding activity and employment are positive compared
with their levels in previous months. The Purchasing Managers Index
increased again in April, following its increase in the previous month. The
Research Department's index based on Google searches, which serves as an
indicator of demand in the economy in the coming months predicts an
acceleration in trade and services revenue, compared with previous months.
Gross VAT receipts indicate some stabilization of activity in April compared
with the previous month. The slowdown in activity is reflected especially in
declines of goods exports and goods imports in April, continuing their
decline in previous months. Nonetheless, services exports and imports of
services and raw materials have increased since the beginning of the year at
relatively high rates compared with the final quarter of 2011.
The labor market: Labour Force Survey data, calculated using the new method,
indicate stability for the month of March and for the first quarter of 2012.
The unemployment rate increased to 6.9 percent in March, compared with 6.5
percent in February. However, the increase in the unemployment rate in March
reflects an increase of 0.8 percentage points in the participation rate, to
63 percent, with an increase in the employment rate to 58.7 percent in
March, up from 58.1 percent in February. The Survey's quarterly figures
indicate a decline in the unemployment rate, from 6.8 percent in the final
quarter of 2011 to 6.7 percent in the first quarter of this year, with
increases in the participation and employment rates. According to the survey
of business trends, and the forecast derived from the data for the number of
employees, a recovery in employee recruitment is expected in the coming
months. Health tax receipts, which provide an indication of total wage
payments, were 6.5 percent higher in April in nominal terms than in April
2011 (excluding the effect of legislative changes); in contrast, March
receipts were 5.3 percent higher than in March 2011. Nominal wages increased
0.3 percent in December–February compared with the preceding three months,
and real wages declined by 0.6 percent.
The Bank of Israel Research Department staff forecast: The Bank of Israel
Research Department quarterly staff forecast, which was compiled in March,
was not revised, as there were no extraordinary developments regarding the
projection. According to the forecast, GDP growth in 2012 will be 3.1
percent, and 3.5 percent in 2013. The forecast projects an inflation rate of
2.6 percent over the four quarters ending in the first quarter of 2013, and
an average interest rate in the first quarter of 2013 of 2.5 percent. The
interest rate is forecast to begin increasing in the middle of 2013, under
the assumption of a recovery in the global economy.
Budget data: Actual budget expenditure resulted in a domestic deficit from
the beginning of the year through April of NIS 2.8 billion, compared with a
surplus of NIS 1.1 billion in the corresponding period of 2011. The deficit
from the beginning of the year is about NIS 2.4 billion greater than the
seasonal path consistent with the Ministry of Finance deficit forecast of
3.4 percent of GDP, but based on forecast growth, revenues over the
remainder of the year are expected to be slightly above the seasonal path.
The gap so far derives from tax receipts lower than the path and
expenditures above the path. The government's commitments for this year
(wage agreements, defense expenditure, etc.) are about NIS 6 billion above
the budget's expenditure ceiling. It should be noted, however, that the
government has not in the past deviated from the budget expenditure
framework. Hence, any further increase in the deficit is liable to stem from
an additional decline in tax receipts.
The foreign exchange market: From the previous monetary policy discussion
held on April 22, 2012, through May 23, 2012, the shekel depreciated against
the dollar by about 2.7 percent, in line with the trend of the exchange
rates of most major currencies against the dollar, and strengthened by 1.5
percent against the euro, which traded mixed against major currencies. In
terms of the nominal effective exchange rate the shekel depreciated by about
0.3 percent.
The capital and money markets: From the previous monetary policy discussion
held on April 22, 2012, through May 23, 2012, the Tel Aviv 25 Index declined
sharply by 9.7 percent, in line with the worldwide trend. In the unindexed
bond curve, yields declined 10–20 basis points along the entire curve, while
there was a flattening of the CPI-indexed bond curve, with a marked increase
in rates for short terms. The yield gap between Israeli 10-year government
bonds and equivalent 10-year US Treasury securities widened slightly this
month, by 5 basis points (b.p.), to 275 b.p.; this was due to a sharper
decline in yields in the US. Makam yields declined along the entire curve,
with one year yields declining to 2.41 percent. Israel's sovereign risk
premium as measured by the five-year CDS remained essentially unchanged this
month at 191 b.p. The Tel-Bond 20 Index and the Tel-Bond 40 Index declined
by about 1.3 percent, as part of the negative domestic trend, which was
reflected in, among other things, increased yields of holding groups.
Tel-Bond yield gaps vis-?-vis government bonds widened this month.
The money supply: In the twelve months ending in April, the M1 monetary
aggregate (cash held by the public and demand deposits) increased by 4.2
percent, and the M2 aggregate (M1 plus unindexed deposits of up to one year)
increased by 10.6 percent.
Developments in the credit markets: The outstanding debt of the business
sector declined in March by 0.7 percent, to NIS 777 billion. The decline in
the debt derived primarily from a decline in outstanding bank credit. Total
outstanding credit to households increased in March by 0.7 percent, to NIS
367 billion, but within the total, the balance of outstanding housing credit
increased by 0.3 percent, to NIS 261 billion. Total mortgages granted in the
twelve months ending in April were 2 percent lower than those advanced in
the twelve months to March, continuing the decline from the peak level in
May 2011. Unindexed floating rate mortgages granted in April constituted 30
percent of total new mortgages. Interest rates on all mortgage tracks
declined this month.
The housing market: The housing component of the CPI (representing rents)
increased in April by 0.8 percent, following its 0.4 percent increase in
March. In the past twelve months it increased by 4.6 percent. Home prices,
which are published in the Central Bureau of Statistics survey of home
prices but are not included in the CPI, increased in February–March by 0.3
percent, after an increase of 0.1 percent in January–February. With that, in
the twelve months to April, home prices increased at a rate of 2.2 percent,
compared with a rate of 2.8 percent in the twelve months to March. Activity
in the construction industry continues to be strong. There were 44,800
building starts in the twelve months to February, compared with 44,916 in
the twelve months to January. In March, the number of homes available for
sale built by the private sector increased by 4.7 percent, continuing the
trend of increase since the second quarter of 2011, the result of a sharp
increase in building starts since the end of 2009. Thus, the number of homes
for sale is still at the levels of 2003–07. The moderation in the rate of
increase in home prices in recent months comes against the background of the
continued increase in the number of building starts, the lagged effect of
the increase in the interest rate, measures introduced by the Bank of Israel
affecting mortgages, and steps taken by the Ministry of Finance in real
estate taxation. These moves, together with land marketing efforts by the
Ministry of Construction and Housing and the Israel Land Administration, are
expected to continue to have a moderating effect on price increases.
The global economy: Uncertainty in Europe increased this month, and as a
result concern grew over the state of Europe's financial system and over the
additional increase in government bond yields in Europe's distressed debt
markets. Macro figures around the world continue to indicate a slowdown, and
this month the figures of the large emerging markets were notably poor.
Against this background, there were sharp declines in equity markets around
the world, and yield spreads widened between distressed debt countries and
the US, and particularly between distressed debt countries and Germany.
Inflation around the world declined this month too, and commodity prices,
particularly oil, declined sharply. Against the background of these
developments, there are increasing market assessments that several central
banks will take additional easing steps.
The main considerations behind the decision
The decision to leave the interest rate for June 2012 unchanged at 2.5
percent is consistent with the Bank of Israel’s interest rate policy that is
intended to entrench the inflation rate within the price stability target of
1–3 percent a year over the next twelve months, and to support growth while
maintaining financial stability. The path of the interest rate in the future
depends on developments in the inflation environment, growth in Israel, the
global economy, monetary policies of major central banks, and developments
in the exchange rate of the shekel.
The following are the main considerations underlying the decision:
Actual inflation over the previous twelve months has been at the center of
the inflation target range for the last four months. Inflation expectations
calculated from the capital market and those of forecasters declined this
month, and at 2.2–2.3 percent are close to the midpoint of the inflation
target range. Commodity prices, particularly oil prices, fell sharply,
continuing the declines of the past two months.
In the first quarter of 2012, GDP grew at a similar rate to that in the
second half of 2011––which taken together with other data published this
month is consistent with the 3.1 percent Bank of Israel growth forecast for
2012.
This month, the uncertainty about future economic developments in Europe
intensified. Moreover, macroeconomic data around the world continue to
indicate a slowdown in growth, and this month the poor figures of the large
emerging economies were particularly notable.
Interest rates in the major economies remain low, and markets are not
pricing in any increases in interest rates by any of the leading advanced
economies' central banks. Against the background of these developments,
there are increasing market assessments that several central banks will take
additional easing steps.
The Bank of Israel will continue to monitor developments in the Israeli and
global economies and in financial markets, particularly in light of the
increasing uncertainty in the global economy. The Bank will use the tools
available to it to achieve its objectives of price stability, the
encouragement of employment and growth, and support for the stability of the
financial system, and in this regard will keep a close watch on developments
in the asset markets.
The minutes of the discussions prior to the above interest rate decision
will be published on June 11, 2012.
The decision regarding the interest rate for June 2012 will be published at
17:30 on Monday, June 25, 2012.
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