Chart 1 - Inflation and key rate dynamics |
NBU, RBI/Raiffeisen Research |
Chart 1 - Inflation and key rate dynamics |
NBU, RBI/Raiffeisen Research |
NBU raised key rate again and worsened inflation and growth forecasts
The increase of the key rate was above analysts' expectations, which were expecting an increase to 9.5%, i.e. by 50bp. Yet, the NBU wants to maintain an aggressive stance against inflation and plans to increase the key rate further to 11.0% in March. The central bank underlines that the key rate will be above the neutral level in the coming years.
According to the NBU's expectations, the shock from the high energy prices will be in place longer than expected earlier, thus remaining one of the key inflationary factors in 2022. Other factors remained to be a significant rise of prices in the key countries' trade partners along with the pick up of the local demand-side and higher wages.
Moreover, in order to make the monetary transmission smoother, the NBU implements an increase to the ratio of required reserves for current accounts in hryvnia, as well as funds in foreign currency by 2pp.
At the same time, the central bank states that it will deter from the usage of planned daily interventions on the FX market, and the only formal intervention will be to smooth the liquidity gap for the hryvnya market.
The increase of the key rate was accompanied by the new economic forecast from the NBU, which shows that the banking regulator made a downward revision of the real sector economy. In 2022, the real GDP growth was downgraded to 3.4% from 3.8% (former forecast in October 2021), CPI from 5% to 7.7%, and core CPI tp 5.9% (previously 3.3%).
Chart 2 - NBU's CPI forecasts* for the next four quarters |
NBU, RBI/Raiffeisen Research |
Revisions of forecasts for each quarter (Q1 22 until Q4 22) over the past 12 months |
The NBU has also substantially revised its inflation forecast upwards for the next seven quarters compared to the previous estimates. There is also a possibility of a further increase in the discount rate due to increased pro-inflationary risks. Given the current balance of risks, we have revised our key rate forecast upwards for 2022 and 2023 and expect 10.5% at the end of 2022 and 8% at the end of 2023.
Oleh Klimov is working in Raiffeisen Bank Aval from beginning 2020. His expertise mainly lies on capital markets that helps him to analyze and cover regional bonds and interest rates markets in Ukraine. Also, he helps other local analysts on monetary policy, inflation, commodities market and balance of payments of Ukraine. From 2018 on, he was working as a quantitative researcher on FX and rates markets in the Kyiv School of Economics. His other experience includes being trader on macro desk in Geneva-based MKS Switzerland and Head of Trading for IGR in Dubai providing service for institutional clients on Asian and European rates and commodities markets. He earned a BSc in Telecommunications Engineering and an MA in Economics from the Kyiv School of Economics.
Kolodii Serhii is a macroeconomic analyst at Raiffeisen Bank Ukraine focusing on analysis and research of Ukraine economy. He joined research team in May of 2020. Prior to joining Raiffeisen Bank, Serhii worked as a professor in Banking University (Kyiv) and has been having a long experience in economic education. He holds a PhD from the Ukrainian Banking Academy of National Bank of Ukraine and is an author of more than 120 scientific publications, especially focusing on fiscal policy and local budget topics and has a passion for public choice theory and economic history. Outside the office, Serhii prefers playing Ping-Pong and football, enjoying hiking and travelling with family.