As part of the health emergency generated by the spread of covid-19, the Bank of Guatemala decided to reduce the prime interest rate again, from 2.25% to 2%.
The Monetary Board considered that, in the last few days, the perspectives of world economic growth for 2020 have deteriorated considerably, due to the persistent propagation of the coronavirus, which has increased the volatility and uncertainty at a global level, informed the Bank of Guatemala.
Arguing that the impact of covid-19 will be significant in the context of global and local economic slowdown, the Central Bank decided to lower the leading interest rate of monetary policy by 50 basis points, from 2.75% to 2.25%.
The decrease in the leading interest rate of the monetary policy seeks to help contain the deceleration of the economic activity and employment in the short term and reduce the cost of credit, informed the Banco de Guatemala.
Arguing that the main economic indicators show a stable behavior, the Central Bank decided at the beginning of the year to maintain the level of the leading interest rate of the monetary policy at 2.75%.
From the Bank of Guatemala's statement:
February 20th, 2020. The Monetary Board, in its session celebrated on February 19, based on the integral analysis of the external and internal economic situation, after evaluating the Inflation Risks Balance, decided to keep the level of the leading interest rate of the monetary policy at 2.75%.
Arguing that the economic activity and the execution of public expenditure report a behavior attached to the growth forecasts for 2019, the Central Bank decided to maintain again at 2.75% the level of the leading interest rate of the monetary policy.
From the Banco de Guatemala statement:
Guatemala, November 28, 2019. The Monetary Board, in its session celebrated on November 27, based on the integral analysis of the external and internal economic situation, after evaluating the Inflation Risks Balance, decided to keep the level of the leading interest rate of the monetary policy at 2.75%.
Arguing that the economic activity reports a behavior attached to the forecasts of growth for 2019, the Central Bank decided to maintain in 2.75% the level of the leading interest rate of monetary policy.
The inflation forecasts for 2019 and 2020 are located within the tolerance margin of the goal established by the Monetary Board, was another of the arguments of the monetary authority to keep the reference rate without variations.
For the third time, in this year, the Banco de Guatemala confirmed that it decided to keep the monetary policy rate at 2.75%, since the short term indicators of the economic activity show a dynamism that adjusts to the expected.
From the Banco de Guatemala press release:
Guatemala, May 30, 2019. The Monetary Board, in its session held on May 29, based on the integral analysis of the external and internal economic situation, after evaluating the Inflation Risks Balance, decided to keep the level of the leading interest rate of the monetary policy at 2.75%.
For the Banco de Guatemala the behavior of several short term indicators follows the prognosis, the institution decided to keep the monetary policy rate without changes.
From the Banco de Guatemala press release:
Guatemala, April 25, 2019. The Monetary Board, in its session held on April 24, based on the integral analysis of the external and internal economic situation, after evaluating the Inflation Risks Balance, decided to keep the level of the leading interest rate of the monetary policy at 2.75%.
Banco de Guatemala decided to keep the monetary policy rate at 2.75%, arguing that several short-term indicators of the economic activity show a dynamism congruent with the projected range of economic growth.
Other reasons to keep the leading rate without variants is that the prognosis and inflation expectations, for 2019 as well as for 2020, are located within the tolerance limit of the goal (4% +/- 1%), according to the Banco de Guatemala.
Arguing that the behavior of the main indicators of the local economy are consistent with those expected, Banco de Guatemala has decided to maintain the monetary policy rate at 2.75%.
From a statement issued by the Bank of Guatemala:
Guatemala, September 27, 2018.The Monetary Board, in its session held on September 26, based on a comprehensive analysis of the external and internal economic situation, after evaluating the Balance of Inflation Risks, decided to maintain the level of the leading monetary policy interest rate at 2.75%.
Arguing that the behavior of the main indicators of the local economy and the current growth conditions are congruent, Banco de Guatemala has decided to keep the monetary policy rate as it is.
Banco de Guatemala reported that based on a comprehensive analysis of the external and internal economic situation, after evaluating the Inflation Risks Balance, it has decided to maintain the level of the leading interest monetary policy rate at 2.75%.
Citing congruence between the recent figures on remittances and economic growth with those estimated for this year, the Banco de Guatemala has decided to keep the monetary policy rate unchanged.
From a statement issued by the Bank of Guatemala:
Guatemala, April 26, 2018.The Monetary Board, in its session held on April 25, based on a comprehensive analysis of the external and internal economic situation, after having seen the Balance of Inflation Risks, decided to maintain the level of the leader monetary policy interest rate at 2.75%.
In the context of a slowdown in bank credit to the private sector and public spending, Banco de Guatemala decided to reduce the level of the leading interest rate from 3% to 2.75%.
From a statement issued by the Bank of Guatemala:
The Monetary Board, based on a comprehensive analysis of the external and internal economic situation, after having seen the Balance of Inflation Risks, decided to reduce the level of the leading monetary policy interest rate from 3.00% to 2.75%.
The Bank of Guatemala has kept the lead monetary policy rate at 3%, arguing that high levels of uncertainty still persist in the external economic environment.
From the report "Recent macroeconomic performance and prospects," by the Bank of Guatemala :
Global economic growth projections for 2017 and 2018 show that the recovery in economic activity will probably continue, albeit in an environment where high levels of uncertainty and downside risks prevail.Forecasts for international oil prices remain on the upside.
The Central Bank is maintaining the monetary policy rate at 3%, arguing that the performance of economic activity is consistent with the expected growth for the year-end.
From a report by the Bank of Guatemala:
The Monetary Board took into account when making its decision: a.In the external environment there is continues to be a recovery in advanced economies which is weaker than expected and in emerging and developing market economies downside risks prevail.
Despite noting that there are still some risks associated with global economic recovery, the Bank of Guatemala has decided to keep the monetary policy rate unchanged.
From a statement issued by the Bank of Guatemala:
The Monetary Board, based on a comprehensive analysis of the external and internal economic situation, after studying the Inflation Risks Balance, has decided to keep the level of the leading monetary policy interest rate at 3.00% .