ICYMI: SARB governor Lesetja Kganyago announced today that interest rates would be cut by interest rates by 100 basis points. This takes the repo rate to 5.25% and the prime lending rate will now drop to 8.75%.
This takes the repo rate to 5.25% which will take effect from 20 March 2020, and the prime lending rate will now drop to 8.75%.
Kganyago said, "The implied path of policy rates over the forecast period generated by the Quarterly Projection Model indicated three repo rate cuts of 25 basis points each in the second and fourth quarter of 2020, as well as in the third quarter of 2021. Monetary policy can ease financial conditions and improve the resilience of households and firms to the short-term economic implications of Covid-19. Our decision and its magnitude seeks to do this in the near term.
"Monetary policy however cannot on its own improve the potential growth rate of the economy or reduce fiscal risks. Current economic conditions underscore the importance of implementing prudent macroeconomic policies and structural reforms that lower costs generally, and increase investment opportunities, potential growth and job creation," Kanyago added.
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