SARB MPC Statement - March 2021
Central bank: sarb | Type: statement | Date: 2021-03-25

25 March 2021
STATEMENT OF THE MONETARY POLICY COMMITTEE
Since the January meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), a second wave
of Covid-19 infections has come and gone, with lockdown restrictions further reduced.
Until vaccination is widespread and populations develop sufficient immunity to curb
virus transmission , it is expected that these waves of infection will continue . As
indicated by public health authorities , a third wave of virus infection is probable in
coming months. Despite further expected waves, the start of vaccinations in many
countries has lifted projections for global economic growth and boosted confidence
significantly.
The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) January forecast for growth in global gross
domestic product (GDP) for 2021 was revised up to 5.5%. The SARB’s forecast for
global growth in 2021 is now 5.8%.1 For 2022, we expect global growth of about 3.7%.
1 Global growth in the QPM model is a trade-weighted average of South Africa’s trading partners. For 2020 this
is now at -3.1% (up from -3.6% in January) and for 2021 revised up from 5.0% to 5.8%. The IMF’s global forecast
for 2022 sits at 4.2%.
MPC Statement 25 March 2021 Page 2
Despite this more optimistic outlook, distribution of vaccines will be slow, contributing
to an uneven pace of global economic recovery this year and next.
Financial markets have generally improved in line with stronger growth and
expectations that policy settings in advanced economies will remain accommodative.
Capital flows to emerging markets increased in December and January. However, in
recent weeks, renewed uncertainty resulted in more volatility in flows and currencies.
This reflects considerable sensitivity to risk, particularly where economies fail to take
advantage of improved global prospects or run large macroeconomic imbalances.
Even though global policy rates are likely to remain accommodative, risk aversion will
persist.
South Africa’s economy expanded by 6.3% on a quarterly, annualised basis in the
fourth quarter of 2020 , and contracted by 7% for the year as a whole . The Bank’s
forecast for GDP for the first quarter of 2021 stands at -0.2%, down from 1.0% at the
time of the January MPC meeting. With stronger quarterly outcomes for the rest of
this year, the economy is expected to grow by about 3.8% (up from 3.6%).
Getting back to pre -pandemic output levels will take time. While recent lockdown
restrictions have proved less constraining to economic activity, loadshedding has been
substantial and consumption moderated after December. Rising oil prices have
increased the economy’s total import bill, offsetting some income gains from a stronger
terms of trade.
Sharply lower public and private investment last year and continued weakness in 2021
will weigh on growth prospects. GDP is expected to grow by 2.4% in 2022 and by
2.5% in 2023, unchanged since the January meeting.
MPC Statement 25 March 2021 Page 3
Overall, risks to the domestic growth outlook are assessed to be balanced. Global
growth, progress in vaccination, a low cost of capital , and high commodity prices are
all supportive of growth. However, new waves of the Covid-19 virus are likely to weigh
on economic activity both globally and locally. In addition, ongoing constraints to the
domestic supply of energy and uncertainty about vaccine rollout continue to pose
downside risks to growth.
The large current account surplus at present reflects good growth and higher prices
for exports, moderate prices for imported oil, and very weak demand for imported
consumer and investment goods . This surplus is expected to give way to a modest
current account deficit as the year progresses.2
Despite recent volatilit y, on balance, a ccommodative policies in many advanced
economies and the improved economic outlook will support global financial market s
and strengthen international capital flows . This broad improvement in the global
environment resulted in net capital inflows to South Africa in December and January,
before giving way to net outflows in recent weeks. Although financing conditions have
modestly improved a nd fiscal risk has eased, the yield curve for rand-denominated
assets remains steep.
Despite these generally favourable global conditions and considerable rand
appreciation through the latter half of 2020 and into this year, the rand remains below
its estimated long -run equilibrium value. Since the January meeting, the rand has
appreciated by 1.3% on a trade-weighted basis. The implied starting point for the rand
2 The current account is expected to be in surplus of 1.3% of GDP in 2021, shifting to a deficit of -0.8% in 2022.
MPC Statement 25 March 2021 Page 4
forecast is R14.96 to the US dollar, compared with R15.70 at the time of the previous
meeting.
Headline consumer price inflation averaged 3.3% in 2020. The forecast for 2021 is
higher at 4.3% (up from 4.0%) and for 2022 slightly lower at 4.4% (down from 4.5%).
The forecast for 2023 is 4.5%.
Core inflation also averaged 3.3% in 2020 . The core inflation forecast for 2021 is
slightly lower at 3.3% (down from 3.4%) and unchanged for 2022 and 2023 at 4.0%
and 4.3%, respectively.
Oil prices have been revised up sharply in the forecast, resulting in higher petrol price
inflation, at 12.7% for 2021, compared to 4.4% at the time of the January meeting. 3
Electricity prices are significantly higher at 9.7% for 2021 (up from 8.1%).
Expectations of future inflation have eased further in the first quarter of this year .
Inflation expectations of households continue to moderate from quite high levels.
Market-based expectations for short -term inflation are lower , but have increased for
the medium and longer-term horizons.4
The overall risks to the inflation outlook appear to be balanced. A more appreciated
nominal exchange rate in recent months, and generally low pass-through, is expected
to continue to moderate some inflationary pressure. The Committee additionally notes
3 Our assumptions are now for oil prices to average about $62 per barrel in 2021 (up from $50) and $60 per
barrel in 2022 and in 2023.
4 The latest (Q1) Bureau for Economic Research (BER) survey expectations for 2021 eased to 3.9% from 4.2%, to
4.2% from 4.5% for 2022 and are at 4.4% for 2023. Household inflation expectations have eased further to 5.0%
from 5.3%. Market analysts (Reuters Econometer) expect inflation to be higher at 4.1% (from 3.8 %) in 2021, at
4.3 (from 4.2) in 2022 and unchanged at 4.5% in 2023. Market-based rates are calculated from the break-even
inflation rate, which is the yield differential between conventional and inflation -linked bonds. These now sit at
4.4% for the 5-year and 5.9% on the 10-year breakeven. 15-year breakeven inflation sits at 6.8%.
MPC Statement 25 March 2021 Page 5
the significant, but likely temporary, reduction in medical insurance price inflation this
year. While global food price inflation remains high, local food price inflation is slightly
lower than previously expected and should remain broadly contained due to high er
local crop production. Oil prices have increased sharply this year and are expected to
remain at these levels over the forecast horizon . Electricity and other administered
prices remain upside risks to the inflation trajectory.
While there are no demand side pressures evident at present, higher growth in 2021
and no change in the potential growth rate implies a narrowing of the output gap over
the forecast period, compared to the January meeting.
Unless the risks outlined earlier materialise, inflation is expected to be well contained
in 2021, before rising to around the midpoint of the inflation target range in 2022 and
2023.
Against this backdrop, the MPC decided to keep rates unchanged at 3.5% per annum.
The decision was unanimous.
The implied policy rate path of the Quarterly Projection Model (QPM) indicates an
increase of 25 basis points in each of the second and fourth quarters of 2021 .
Compared to the previous meeting, the shift in the rate path from the third to the fourth
quarter is due to somewhat lower inflation in 2022.
Monetary policy continues to be accommodative, keeping financial conditions
supportive of credit demand as the economy recovers from the pandemic and
associated lockdowns. The Bank has ensured adequate liquidity in domestic markets
and will continue to closely monitor funding markets for stress. In addition, regulatory
relief provided to banks continues to support lending to households and firms.
MPC Statement 25 March 2021 Page 6
Important macroeconomic gains would be realised by achieving a stable public debt
level, increasing the supply of energy, moderating administered price inflation and
keeping inflation low into the recovery. Such steps will enhance the effectiveness of
monetary policy and its transmission to the broader economy.
Economic and financial conditions are expected to remain volatile for the foreseeable
future. In this uncertain environment, policy decisions will continue to be data
dependent and sensitive to the balance of risks to the outlook. The MPC will seek to
look through temporary price shocks and focus on second round effects . As usual,
the repo rate projection from the QPM remains a broad policy guide , changing from
meeting to meeting in response to new data and risks.
Lesetja Kganyago
GOVERNOR
The next statement of the Monetary Policy Committee will be released on 20 May
2021.
Contact person:
Thoraya Pandy
media@resbank.co.za