Weekly Report 8-14 March 2016

External rebalancing pauses in January

Unemployment rate rises to a 5-year high of 10.3% in FY:15

Real GDP growth reaches a 7-year high of 3.7% in FY:15

Real GDP growth climbs to a 7-year high of 3.0% in FY:15

Economic activity recovers in FY:15 (up 0.7% y-o-y) but falls short of compensating for the flood-related decline in FY:14

Headline inflation declines to 0% y-o-y in February from 0.1% in January, due to higher energy deflation

Fiscal performance improves slightly in January, with the 12- month rolling budget deficit narrowing to 3.5% of GDP

Headline inflation eases sharply to 0.2% y-o-y in February, supported by a sharp correction in food prices

The cycle of monetary policy easing has likely come to an end

Growth returns to positive territory in FY:15 (1.6%), following 3 years of recession

Headline inflation eases by 1.0 pp to 9.1% y-o-y between January and February