Fiji maintains rate, sees robust economy in 2015

     Fiji's central bank maintained its Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) at 0.5 percent, saying economic activity is robust - resulting in buoyant credit growth, higher consumption and investment activity - and this trend should persist in 2015.
    The Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF), which has held its rate steady since November 2011, said this positive economic trend had put some pressure on the balance of payments situation through a larger trade deficit, but stronger tourism and remittance receipts had countered this impact.
    RBF Governor Barry Whiteside noted in his statement that Fiji's reserves had eased slightly to $1.778 billion as of March 25 from $1.806.3 billion as of Feb. 24.
    In its economic statement for February, the RBF forecast that consumption and investment this year would expand in line with the 4.0 percent growth forecast from last year, with new lending for investment purposes more than doubling to $43.1 million in January.
    Fiji's inflation rate rose to 2.1 percent in February from 0.3 percent in January but is expected to remain stable this year given the soft global commodity prices and low inflation in trading partners.


    The Reserve Bank of Fiji issued the following statement:

"The Reserve Bank of Fiji Board at its monthly meeting on 25 March agreed to maintain the Overnight Policy Rate at 0.5 percent.
 In announcing the decision, the Governor and Chairman of the Board, Mr Barry Whiteside stated that economic activity has been robust, driven by strong business confidence and accommodative monetary and fiscal policies.  This has resulted in buoyant credit growth and higher consumption and investment activity.  As expected given that Fiji is a growing open economy, imports have also continued to outpace exports.  Based on recent data, Mr Whiteside highlighted that this trend is expected to persist in 2015.
 Mr Whiteside cautioned that these positive economic outcomes have filtered into some pressure on Fiji’s balance of payments position through a growing trade deficit, although stronger tourism and remittance receipts countered this to a large extent.
Foreign reserves were around $1,778 million on 25 March, sufficient to cover 4.4 months of retained imports of goods and non-factor services.  Inflation was 2.1 percent in February and is expected to remain stable throughout 2015 given the soft global commodity prices (oil and food) and low trading partner inflation.
   The Reserve Bank will continue to monitor domestic and international economic conditions and align its policy decisions accordingly."

    www.CentralBankNews.info