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Statement of the Monetary Policy Committee, issued by Mr TT
Mboweni, Governor of the South African Reserve Bank, 8 December 2005 Introduction
Inflation has remained under control and within the inflation target
range, and growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been robust. The recent
revisions of the GDP data show that the economy has been growing at a faster rate
than previously estimated. The most significant change was to the 2004 growth
rate, which is now estimated to have been 4,5 per cent. A slightly higher growth
rate is expected to be achieved this year, although there are signs that the economy
might be losing some of its earlier momentum. At the October MPC meeting,
the inflation outlook had deteriorated somewhat, which was a cause for concern.
Since then, however, recorded outcomes have been better than anticipated, and
the outlook has changed somewhat. However a number of significant risks remain.
Recent inflation developments Inflation as measured by the
consumer price index for metropolitan and other urban areas excluding the interest
cost on mortgage bonds (CPIX) declined to 4,7 per cent in September, and 4,4 per
cent in October following its peak of 4,8 per cent in August. The decline occurred
despite the increases in local petrol prices in September and October of R0,29
and R0,12 respectively. Since then the petrol price has been reduced by R0,31
in November and R0,30 in December. If petrol price increases were excluded from
this index, CPIX inflation in September and October would have measured 3,5 per
cent and 3,2 per cent respectively, reflecting a continued absence of marked second-round
effects from petrol price increases. These more favourable outcomes have
been due to a number of factors which partly offset the impact of the petrol price
increases. Notable among these were the year-on-year declines in the prices of
clothing and footwear, furniture and equipment, and homeowners' costs. Year-on-year
food price inflation also remained low, measuring 2,5 per cent in October compared
to 3,3 per cent in September. Services inflation moved further within the inflation
target range, having declined to 5,2 per cent in October, compared to goods price
inflation of 4,1 per cent. Of significance is the fact that administered prices
excluding petrol declined to 4,5 per cent and 4,3 per cent in September and October
respectively. This can be compared to a rate of increase of 7 per cent in May.
Administered price inflation including petrol amounted to 10,0 per cent in October.
Production price inflation also reversed its recent upward trend in October
when it measured 4,2 per cent, compared to 4,6 per cent in September. Prices of
domestically produced goods rose by 3,8 per cent and 3,5 per cent in September
and October respectively, while price increases of imported goods amounted to
6,8 per cent and 5,8 per cent. The food price category continued to exhibit price
declines. The outlook for inflation As a result of the lower
inflation outcomes as well as the changes in some of the determinants of the inflation
outlook, CPIX inflation is now forecast to run at a level somewhat below the previous
forecast and reach a level of around 5 per cent by the end of 2007. There
are a number of changes that have occurred since the last meeting of the MPC which
have led to this improved inflation outlook. Perhaps the most significant have
been developments in the international oil market. In the aftermath of the series
of hurricanes and the build-up of oil inventories in the United States, oil prices
have moderated somewhat and Brent crude has averaged around US$55 since November.
At the time of the last MPC meeting, the price of Brent crude had fallen to just
below US$60 per barrel, having averaged around US$64.50 per barrel in August and
US$63 per barrel in September. The current levels are therefore significantly
lower than they have been for some time. However given the risks and volatility
in the oil markets, including uncertainties related to the Northern Hemisphere
winter, this situation could change very rapidly, and will therefore be carefully
monitored. The resultant R0,61 cumulative decline in domestic petrol prices
in November and December will be reflected in the CPIX outcomes for these months.
Currently there is a significant over-recovery on the petrol price which, if sustained,
is likely to result in a further petrol price reduction in January. To
date the overall impact of the international oil price increases on inflation
and output have been far more muted than originally expected, both domestically
and internationally. World growth is expected to remain relatively vigorous, particularly
in the United States and Asia, and according to Internationl Monetary Fund (IMF)
projections, world inflation is expected to moderate next year to an average rate
below 4 per cent. According to the inflation expectations survey conducted
by the Bureau for Economic Research at the University of Stellenbosch, overall
CPIX inflation expectations in the fourth quarter of 2005 remained unchanged compared
to the third quarter. All categories of respondents still expect inflation to
remain within the target range over the next two years. CPIX inflation is expected
to average 5,2 per cent in both 2006 and 2007. This represents an unchanged picture
for 2006, compared to the previous survey, but the expectations for 2007 are now
0,2 percentage points lower than in the third quarter. The expectations of trade
unionists and business people increased marginally for next year, but this was
offset by the decline in the expectations of analysts. Inflation expectations
as indicated in the long-term break-even inflation rates, measured as the yield
differential between conventional bonds and inflation-linked bonds, point to some
improvement in inflation expectations. The break-even inflation rate in the five-to-eight
year maturity range decreased from a recent high of 5,1 per cent in mid-October
to 4,8 per cent at the end of November. Exchange rate developments have
reinforced the impact of the lower international oil prices on the domestic petrol
prices. The rand initially depreciated against the dollar after the last MPC meeting,
but in recent weeks it has appreciated against most currencies. Since the last
meeting the nominal effective exchange rate of the rand has appreciated by almost
seven per cent. This recent rand strength is explained in part by improved international
perceptions of South Africa's growth prospects and higher commodity prices. In
recent days the platinum price has breached the US$1,000 level, and the gold price
has exceeded US$500. Wage growth has remained moderate with unit labour
cost increases in the first half of the year being well within the inflation target
range. Revised year-on-year increases in unit labour costs in the formal non-agricultural
sector measured 3,8 per cent and 4,5 per cent in the first two quarters of this
year respectively, while unit labour cost increases in the manufacturing sector
measured 4,4 per cent and 0,2 per cent in the these quarters. Surveys by Andrew
Levy Employment Publications show that wage settlements for the first nine months
of this year averaged 6,2 per cent, down from 6,7 per cent in the same period
in 2004. Regarding fiscal policy, the October Medium Term Budget Policy
Statement indicated that the budget deficit for the current fiscal year is now
expected to be approximately one per cent of GDP compared to an initial budgeted
estimate of 3,1 per cent. Furthermore, the projected deficits for the forthcoming
two fiscal years are expected to be around two per cent of GDP. Output
and expenditure trends however are likely to be a source of upward pressure on
inflation. According to the recently revised data, the economy grew at an annualised
rate of 5,2 per cent in the first two quarters of 2005 before slowing to 4,2 per
cent in the third quarter. Manufacturing capacity utilisation also remained high
in the third quarter and the composite leading business cycle indicator has continued
on its rising trend. Although growth is expected to continue at a robust pace,
there are also some indications of a slowdown in manufacturing sector growth as
seen in the significant decline in the Investec/BER Purchasing Managers Index
over the past four months, and the 4,9 per cent decrease in real manufacturing
production in October. Expenditure also remains robust with real gross
domestic final demand growing at a rate of around 6 per cent in the first three
quarters of this year. Real household expenditure has been growing at a similar
rate. Motor vehicle sales continued to reach new highs, but the rate of increase
has declined. In October, the number of new motor vehicles sold decreased by 1,7
per cent compared to September sales. The strong demand is underpinned by the
current level of interest rates and strong asset prices, with the JSE securities
exchange reaching new record highs in November. Although house prices continue
to rise, the rate of increase has declined significantly. These favourable conditions
have resulted in household debt as a percentage of disposable income rising to
63,5 per cent in the third quarter of 2005. Money supply and credit extension
growth remain at high rates consistent with expenditure growth, but there may
be some signs of moderation. M3 money supply decelerated from a year-on-year rate
of 19,0 per cent in August 2005 to 16,8 per cent and 16,4 per cent in September
and October respectively. Growth in total loans and advances, driven mainly by
asset-backed credit, declined marginally from 21,9 per cent in August to 20,5
per cent in October. Part of this could be due to increased securitisation. Mortgage
advances in particular remained strong reflecting continued buoyancy in the housing
market. The increasing deficit on the current account of the balance of
payments is a potential concern. The latest data show that the current account
deficit increased to 4,7 per cent of GDP in the third quarter, up from a revised
deficit of 3,7 per cent in the second quarter. These deficits are a reflection
of higher domestic expenditure and are not in themselves inflationary. To date
the deficits have been more than adequately financed by capital inflows which
in turn are being attracted by the improved growth prospects in the economy. The
overall balance of payments has remained in surplus, and the level of gross gold
and foreign exchange reserves increased slightly above the US$20 billion level
to date. Monetary Policy Stance Taking the above factors
into consideration, the Monetary Policy Committee has decided to leave the repo
rate unchanged at seven per cent per annum. The MPC will, as is usually the case,
remain vigilant in order to ensure that CPIX inflation stays within the inflation
target range. Should the outlook deteriorate, the MPC will not hesitate to adjust
the repo rate in the appropriate direction. Enquiries:
Samantha Henkeman
Tel: (012) 313 4669 Issued by: South African Reserve Bank
8 December
2005 Source: South African Reserve Bank (http://www.reservebank.co.za/)
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