Interest rates unchanged
Monday, September 29, 2014
In a statement released after a Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, the central bank announced on Friday that the bank rate would be maintained at 7.5 percent.
The bank said the current state of the economy, domestic and external economic prospects as well as the inflation outlook suggest that the current policy stance is consistent with maintaining inflation within the Bank’s objective in the medium term.
Whilst celebrating milestones in inclusivity, with notably P5 billion awarded to vulnerable groups, the report sounds a 'siren' on a dangerous and growing trend: the ballooning use of micro-procurement. That this method, designed for small-scale, efficient purchases, now accounts for a staggering 25% (P8 billion) of total procurement value is not a sign of agility, but a 'red flag'. The PPRA’s warning is unequivocal and must be...