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Peru's high public spending holding back faster interest rate cuts, cenbank chief says

Peru's high public costs, which has pushed the financial deficit past the federal government's target, is impeding quick reductions in interest rates, the nation's reserve bank chief said on Thursday.

WHY IT is essential

Peru's high financial deficit restricts the reserve bank's capability to cut interest rates more quickly, even as prices fall in the Andean nation and as the government calls for sped up monetary easing.

SECRET PRICES QUOTE

It is expensive, Central Bank Governor Julio Velarde stated of public spending. One factor that restricts quick decreases in the rates of interest is that public costs is growing too fast and requires to be controlled.

Velarde said it could be fretting if the high costs trend continues. In Peru we have seen what can take place if it gets out of control and we need to be clear about that.

BY THE NUMBERS

Peru currently has among the region's least expensive standard rates of interest. The reserve bank cut the rate to 5.00% in November.

The present financial deficit, which at the end of the second quarter stood at 4% of GDP, goes beyond the economy ministry's. target of 2.8% for completion of 2024. The spending plan's red ink marks. the highest deficit because 2020, when pandemic-related procedures. pressed it to almost 9% of GDP.

SECRET CONTEXT

Government costs assisted fuel the economy's healing from. a recession in 2015, with the government forecasting financial. development of 3.2% in 2024.

Velarde in September associated Peru's high deficit to a. surge in public costs together with falling earnings, as well as. the government's financial support to heavily-indebted state oil. business Petroperu.

(source: Reuters)