Øystein Olsen: The conduct of monetary policy
Introductory statement by Mr Øystein Olsen, Governor of Norges Bank (Central Bank of
Norway), at the hearing before the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs of
the Storting (Norwegian parliament), Oslo, 15 May 2014.
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Accompanying charts can be found on the Central Bank of Norway's website: Charts (PDF).
Please note that the text below may differ from the actual presentation.
I would like to thank the Chairman of the Committee for this opportunity to report on the
conduct of monetary policy. My statement here today is based on Norges Bank's Annual
Report for 2013 and has been updated based on new information and assessments up to the
monetary policy meeting last week.
Norges Bank's operational conduct of monetary policy is oriented towards low and stable
inflation. The operational target is annual consumer price inflation of close to 2.5 percent
over time. Monetary policy shall also contribute to smoothing fluctuations in output and
employment. The key policy rate is the main instrument of monetary policy.
Chart: Inflation and capacity utilisation
In 2001, an inflation target was assigned to Norges Bank. The experience has been positive.
Over the past ten years, consumer price inflation has on average been somewhat below, but
close to 2.5 percent. The world economy has to a large extent been marked by imbalances
through this period. Growth in the Norwegian economy slowed in the wake of the financial
crisis, but has since been close to a normal level. Unemployment has remained low.
Chart2: Norges Bank's key policy rate
The key policy rate is lower than what can be considered to be a normal level. Norway is a
small, open economy. Exceptionally low interest rates abroad influence the key policy rate in
Norway. At the same time, there is still a considerable difference between the key policy rate
and the interest rates facing households and enterprises. Banks' lending margins are not
particularly low as their lending margins are high.
Chart3: Key rates abroad
Low interest rates and unconventional monetary policy internationally reflect a continued low
activity levels and high unemployment. In some countries, particularly in Europe, inflation has
also shown a considerably decline. Policy rates are still close to zero in many countries and
both the European Central Bank (ECB) and Sveriges Riksbank cut rates last year.
Leading central banks have taken new steps to provide markets with forward guidance, with
the aim of signalling low interest rates for a long period ahead. In today's situation, the
forward guidance is intended to signal low interest rates for an extended period of time in
order to sustain inflation and boost growth.
Other unconventional monetary policy actions are also in use. With large-scale securities
purchases, the central banks in the US, the UK and Japan have sought to reduce long-term
interest rates and thereby funding costs for firms and households. The provision of liquidity
has also led to higher equity and securities prices. The US Federal Reserve started tapering
asset purchases last year, resulting in a slight, renewed increase in long-term interest rates.
Chart 4: GDP for trading partners
Growth among our trading partners picked up in the latter half of 2013, particularly in the US.
Although euro-area growth has also improved, unemployment and debt levels remain
elevated. Emerging economies are growing at a clearly faster pace than advanced
economies, but the pace has slackened somewhat. A number of emerging economies have
been affected by capital outflows and currency depreciation. The tapering of asset purchases
by the US Federal Reserve has likely also contributed to these developments. Countries with
large current account deficits are particularly hard hit.
Chart 5: Consumer prices abroad
Inflation has fallen in many countries over that past few years. Euro area inflation fell to a
very low level in 2013, fuelling fears of deflation. However, a portion of the decline in inflation
is related to developments in food and energy prices. Furthermore, the decline has been
most pronounced in periphery countries. In those countries, negative or very low price growth
reflects a need for improving competitiveness. In the core countries, such as Germany and
France, inflation has remained on a steadier course. Long-term inflation expectations seem
to be firmly anchored in most advanced economies.
Chart 6: GDP for Mainland Norway
Growth in the Norwegian economy slowed through 2013. The slowdown was most
pronounced in the construction and oil supplier industries. Some export industries were also
affected by weak demand in Europe and high cost levels. Growth in household demand was
moderate in 2013. Household saving increased further and is now at a historically high level.
Unemployment edged up through 2013. Capacity utilisation in the economy is still assessed
to be close to a normal a level.
Chart7: The krone exchange rate
After appreciating over a longer period, the krone showed a pronounced weakening in 2013.
Both domestic and international conditions contributed to the depreciation. Signs of weaker
growth in the Norwegian economy probably had an impact. An improvement in the economic
situation in the euro area may also have contributed. Although the krone has appreciated
somewhat thus far in 2014, it is still clearly weaker than at the beginning of 2013.
Chart 8: Consumer prices in Norway
Inflation has increased. As measured by the CPI-ATE, inflation averaged 2.5 percent in the
first quarter of 2014. The krone depreciation has contributed to a faster rise in prices for
imported consumer goods. Prices for domestically produced goods and services also rose at
a faster pace in 2013, at just below 3 percent in the latter half of the year. The rise in house
rents and food prices through 2013 partly reflects a revision of the calculation method for
these goods items in the CPI.
In the coming months, inflation is projected to edge down, partly reflecting the unwinding of
temporary effects. Underlying inflation is now estimated to be between 2 percent and 21⁄2
percent, which is one percentage point higher than one year earlier.
Chart 9: Norges Bank's key policy rate projections
Saving, investment and spending decisions are influenced by expectations concerning future
interest rates. Communication on the future course of monetary policy, including the
publication of key policy forecasts, therefore plays an important role. Even though the key
policy rate has been kept unchanged, Norges Bank's forecasts for the key policy rate ahead
were revised down through 2013.
The downward revision of the key policy rate forecasts primarily reflects lower growth
forecasts for the Norwegian economy. There are also prospects that wage growth will be
somewhat lower than envisaged earlier. Growth among our trading partners and interest
rates abroad have been somewhat lower than projected one year earlier. At the same time,
banks' lending margins are somewhat higher than expected.
Chart 10: Inflation and capacity utilisation
The analyses in the latest Monetary Policy Report published in March suggested that the key
policy rate should be held at today's level in the period to summer 2015, followed by a
gradual increase. With such a path for the key policy rate, there are prospects that inflation
will be slightly below, but close to 2.5 percent throughout the projection period. Capacity
utilisation may edge down over the next year and thereafter move up to close to a normal
level.
Chart 11: Household debt and house prices
Monetary policy aims to be robust by, among other things, taking into account the uncertainty
associated with economic driving forces and the functioning of the economy. In addition, in
the conduct of monetary policy we seek to take into account the risk of a build-up of financial
imbalances. After rising sharply over many years, house prices flattened through 2013. In
recent months, house prices have shown a renewed rise. Household debt has increased at a
faster pace than household income over several years.
A robust monetary policy aims to provide an improved path for inflation, output and
employment over time. A lower key policy rate can push up both inflation and demand for
goods, services and labour in the short run. On the other hand, a lower key policy rate would
have augmented the risk of a further build-up of financial imbalances. A persistently
pronounced increase in house prices and debt may lead to a build-up of financial imbalances
that may trigger or amplify an economic downturn - with high unemployment as a result. This
suggests a gradual approach in interest-rate setting.
Robust banks and financial sector regulation are crucial for financial stability. Increased
capital requirements for banks are now being phased in. In 2013, the Ministry of Finance
assigned Norges Bank the task of providing advice on a countercyclical capital buffer for
banks. In December, the Ministry set the buffer rate at 1 percent, in line with the advice
issued by Norges Bank. The requirement will apply from 30 June 2015.
The purpose of the countercyclical capital buffer is to enhance banks' resilience to periods of
large losses. The buffer rate will be increased when financial balances are building up or
have built up over a period. In the event of an economic downturn and large bank losses, the
buffer rate can be reduced, with a view to mitigating the procyclical effects of an undesired
tightening of bank lending.
The buffer is not an instrument in the ordinary management of business cycles. Changes in
capital requirements may nonetheless influence banking behaviour and hence economic
developments. Banks can satisfy increased capital requirements in several ways. They can
raise equity from their owners and some banks have already done so. Should banks choose
to increase their lending margins or restrict lending by other means, this will have an impact
on economic activity and inflation. New capital requirements may therefore influence the
conduct of monetary policy.
While increased capital requirements will strengthen banks' solidity and may mitigate the
build-up of imbalances, we cannot proceed under the assumption that new regulations will
eliminate the risk of financial instability. A robust monetary policy will therefore continue to
take into account the risk of a build-up of financial imbalances. At the same time, monetary
policy must not be overburdened. When assessing the monetary policy trade-offs, the
primary objective of monetary policy must remain low and stable inflation. We will not
lose sight of the inflation target. Should the outlook for inflation or economic activity show a
pronounced change, we still have monetary policy leeway - in both directions.