Poland Watch: Accelerated disinflation while consumption still weak
Disinflation accelerated in May while GDP details confirmed the weakness of the consumption and manufacturing sector as implied also by the PMI. The data does not affect our 0.5% YoY GDP forecast for 2023 and expectation for rate cuts in 2024. IMF's model suggests more hikes.
Disinflation now also in core categories?
The flash CPI release for May showed a stronger-than-expected decline to 13% from 14.7% YoY in April.
Prices stagnated amid an almost 5% MoM decline in fuel prices, a 0.5% MoM drop in energy prices, and a 0.6% MoM growth in food prices. For the second consecutive month, the latter has recorded lower dynamics, resembling the lower levels from 2021. The deceleration follows global food prices and was also visible last month in other countries in the region.
The flash data implies that core inflation dropped more than we expected to around 11.4% from 12.2% YoY, with the monthly dynamic probably near 0.4% MoM. This means that finally core inflation dynamics may stabilize and return to the pre-2022 MoM pattern.
The data released today adds downside risks to our full-year CPI forecast of 13.4% YoY and supports expectations of single-digit CPI growth in Q4. However, we still see risks of the indicator staying above the central bank target in 2024. As a result, we still expect rate cuts to come into effect only in 2024.
GDP structure confirms weakness of consumer demand and the rise of net exports
The CSO revised Q1 GDP to -0.3% YoY vs to -0.2% in the flash reading. The structure of growth showed further deterioration of private consumption (-2% YoY), while investment growth remained stable, rising by 5.5% YoY (5.4% in Q4'22). As expected, net exports rebounded significantly and added 4.3pp compared to 1.7% in Q4. This helped balance the negative impact of inventories (-4.1pp) and private consumption (-1pp).
As visualized below, the downturn continues in Poland, with inventories finally taking an opposite turn after contributing to growth in 2022. The weak consumer demand remains a key concern; however, we expect some recovery later in the year, especially as disinflation allows for a return to positive real growth in wages, amid an overall limited impact on the labour market (the unemployment rate in April declined to 5.2%, the lowest since Dec'22).
Looking at specific sectors, the -1.4% YoY change in value added for the industry is worth noting, given its relevance to the economy. Signs of renewed weakness were visible recently in confidence indicators, with industrial output also declining (on average by 3.5% YoY in Q1).
The data does not affect our GDP forecasts. As recovery will occur amid still weakened consumer demand and a high base from 2022, we expect GDP to grow by merely 0.5% YoY, while acknowledging some upside risks.
PMI still in slowdown area
The Polish PMI increased slightly in May but remained below the 50-point threshold, measuring at 47 points, following a drop in April. The weakness can be attributed, among other factors, to the ongoing decline in output and orders, especially for exports. On a positive note, the report highlights improved supply-side conditions, while the most significant change in the indicator was driven by decreasing input and output prices. This improvement can be attributed to a stronger Polish złoty (PLN) and lower prices of certain materials.
IMF's update on Poland
The latest regular update on Poland from the IMF included the results of its monetary policy model (QPM). While acknowledging the limitations of the model, the IMF model pointed to even higher interest rates in Poland. The alternative scenarios, which suggest rate cuts in 2024, align with our expectations (fast cuts from Q2'24, core inflation in target by the end of 2024).
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Dorota STRAUCH
Poland Dorota Strauch is leading economic research on Poland from the RBI Branch located in Warsaw. She began working in Polish RBI network bank in 2010. In 2017 she became the Head of Polish Research team. Having a master’s degree in Financial Markets and Banking she deepened her knowledge by becoming the CFA charterholder in 2016. In the following years she has been focusing on improving data analysis skills with the use of Python programming language. Apart from current economic developments in Poland and the CEE region she is particularly interested in the impact of new technologies on the economy, politics and society.
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