NATIONAL BANK OF SERBIA
Speech at the presentation
of the Inflation Report - May 2018
Dr Jorgovanka Tabaković, Governor
Belgrade, 17 May 2018
Ladies and gentlemen, representatives of the press, dear colleagues,
Welcome to the presentation of the May Inflation Report. We will give you an overview of the current
macroeconomic developments, our new projections and monetary policy decisions.
Low inflationary pressures, with anchored inflation expectations, a sustained fiscal surplus in
conditions of high growth of domestic GDP, and credit growth, with an extended fall in the share of
non-performing loans
To begin with, I would like to share with you our overall assessment that economic developments in the
past months of 2018 have been favourable and that the positive trends are expected to continue for the
remainder of the year. GDP growth particularly stands out given that, according to the preliminary
estimate of the Serbian Statistical Office, it accelerated considerably in the first quarter of 2018, to 4.5%
year-on-year. The favourable structure of its sources is indicated by stepped-up growth in investment
and activity in production sectors, primarily construction and manufacturing.
In accordance with our expectations, during the first four months of this year, year-on-year inflation
decelerated significantly, largely due to the base effect, that is, the drop-out of early-2017 one-off price
hikes of certain products and services from the calculation. Consumer prices rose 1.1% year-on-year in
April, with core inflation of 0.8% year-on-year, which is below our expectations stated in the February
Inflation Report. The reasons for this are primarily lower-than-expected import prices and low costs in
food production. Coupled with lower inflation expectations, this confirms that inflationary pressures
have additionally abated since the beginning of the year.
Positive fiscal movements continued in the first quarter, with a fiscal surplus of 0.4% of GDP recorded in
conditions of accelerated growth, higher corporate profitability, positive tendencies in the labour
market and more efficient tax collection. By structure, revenues increased mostly on account of excise
taxes, allocated social insurance contributions and profit tax, while on the expenditure side, the rise in
capital expenditures is assessed as highly positive. Also conducive to the favourable fiscal result was the
reduction in interest expenses in conditions of the government's subdued need for borrowing,
monetary policy easing by the National Bank of Serbia and a low country risk premium.
As regards external economic relations, the current account deficit has been lowered by 6.3%
year-onyear, amid two-digit growth of goods and services exports, as well as two-digit imports growth due to
the economy's increased need for equipment and intermediate goods. In terms of structure, the
financial account still recorded a high net inflow of foreign direct investment, which was higher by
around 2% year-on-year and boosted by the net inflow of portfolio investment. We estimate that the
net inflow of foreign direct investment for the entire year will be around EUR 2.6 billion.
Since the start of the year, lending also posted accelerated growth - to 7.5% year-on-year in March,
sustained by the effects of past monetary policy easing, growing economic activity and labour market
recovery. Coupled with the activities on the resolution of non-performing loans, this was conducive to
the continued reduction in the share of non-performing loans in total loans to 9.2% in March.
This is a brief overview of developments in the first quarter. In the remainder of the year, we expect
positive trends to continue. This is also indicated by our latest projections, according to which we will
maintain low inflation in the next two years as well, under current assumptions. As for the economic
growth forecast, we believe that economic policy measures are well-calibrated and that they have
created the basis for sustainable acceleration of GDP growth of around 3.5% in 2018 and in 2019. We
also believe that there are grounds for growth to be even faster this year.
Chart 1 Chart 2
Inflation projection GDP growth projection
(y-o-y rates, in %)
(y-o-y rates, in %)
7
8
6
7
5
6
4
5
3
4
2
3
1
2
0
-1 1
-2
0
3 6 9 12 3 6 9 12 3 6 9 12 3 6 9 12 3
I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Source: NBS.
Source: NBS.
Uncertainty in the international environment emanates primarily from the commodity and financial
markets
In the period since the previous Report, developments in the international environment were marked
by additionally improved prospects of global economic upturn, maintenance of low inflationary
pressures despite the hike in the prices of primary commodities, notably oil, as well as increasingly
diverging monetary policies of leading central banks. Although the recently published data indicate that
growth in the euro area slowed down in the first quarter, dominant estimates suggest that the
deceleration is temporary and that growth will resume this year at a similar pace as in 2017. In addition
to favourable growth prospects of Serbia's other important trade partners, this should contribute to
further growth in Serbia's exports.
Chart 4
Chart 3 Revisions of real GDP growth forecasts for Movements in GDP and economic activity indicators
of the euro area
2018 and 2019 by the IMF
(quarterly rates)
(in %)
(in %) (in index points)
7 2018 (previous projection)
6.6
6.4 2 60
2019 (previous projection)
2018 (new projection)
6
55
2019 (new projection) 1
5
50
0
4
45
2.7 -1
2.9
3
2.5
2.4
40
2.0
2.0
2 1.7 -2
1.5
1.5
35
1.1
GDP, s-a (LHS)*
1
EuroCoin (LHS)
-3
30
Euro area composite PMI (RHS)
Eurozone Economic Sentiment Indicator (RHS)
0
-4 25
Italy
area USA
I III I III I III I III I III I III I III I III I III I III I
China
Russia
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Germany
Euro
Eurostat, Markit Group, Banca d'Italia and European
Sources: Commission.
Sources: IMF WEO Update (January 2018) and IMF WEO (April 2018).
* Eurostat preliminary estimate for Q1 2018.
While global growth forecasts are looking up, developments in certain markets are still veiled in
uncertainty. The global commodity market recorded a continued rise in the prices of primary
commodities, notably oil, whose price came at USD 78 per barrel in May, the highest since November
2014. The price of oil rose on the back of a sharp pick-up in demand, triggered by accelerated global
growth, as well as supply factors, primarily the leading oil exporters capping the production and
geopolitical tension. In addition, since the start of the year, the prices of primary agricultural
commodities also increased, though to a lower extent.
However, the futures and current projections by the relevant institutions indicate that, after this year's
growth, we can expect global prices of primary commodities to stabilise and then decline in 2019 and
2020. Using that as a starting point, we do not expect any major inflationary pressures on this account
over the medium term. However, bearing in mind the high volatility of oil prices in the prior period, as
well as the fact that these prices are currently around 50% higher in year-on-year terms, it is our
estimate that their movements require caution in making monetary policy decisions in the coming
period as well.
Chart 5
Oil and copper price movements Chart 6 Prices of primary agricultural commodities
(average monthly prices, in USD)
and their futures
(USD/t)
130 10,000
350
120
9,000
110
300
8,000
100
7,000
90
250
80 6,000
70
5,000
200
60
4,000
50
150
3,000
40
30 2,000
100
1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9
1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Price of Brent oil per barrel (LHS)
Brent oil futures (LHS)
Corn Wheat
Price of copper per ton (RHS)
Source: Bloomberg.
Copper futures (RHS)
Source: CBOT - Chicago Boаrd of Trade.
During the first quarter, uncertainty and volatility in the international financial market also increased.
The character of monetary policies of leading central banks diverged further amid the still present
uncertainty in terms of the pace of their normalisation in the coming period and, in turn, movements in
the dollar/euro relationship, as well as capital flows towards emerging economies. Despite this, global
financial conditions are still favourable.
Strengthening domestic fundamentals - a response to external challenges
It is a fact that there have been and there still will be external challenges going forward. We cannot
impact them, but only mitigate their effects. Therefore structural improvements of our economy and
the narrowed internal and external imbalances have been of particular importance as they boosted our
resilience to negative effects of global factors.
In conditions of rising corporate profitability, positive tendencies in the labour market and higher
efficiency of tax collection, favourable fiscal movements continued in 2018 as well, with a surplus of
around 0.4% of GDP in the first quarter.
Chart 7. Fiscal trends
Chart 8
Current account deficit and net FDI inflow
(in % of GDP)
(in % of GDP)
50 8
22
20
18 CAD Net FDI
16
40
1.2
14
12
76543210-1
10
-0.6 -1.3
-0.8 -0.8
-1.1 -2
-1.3
30
-1.9 -1.9
-3 8
-2.4
-2.6 -3.1
-2.7
-3.2
-2.9 -4
6
-3.7
-5
-4.4
-4.6
-4.8
4
-6
-5.5
-7
-6.8 -6.6
2
20 -8
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 0
Consolidated result (RHS)
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
2018* 2019*
Interest payments (RSH)
Revenues (LHS)
Source: NBS.
Source: Ministry of Finance.
Expenditures (LHS)
* NBS projection.
The competitiveness of the Serbian economy also increased, reflected in the rise in exports of all areas
of manufacturing (12.4% year-on-year), except the food industry, which was adversely affected by the
diminished agricultural production in the wake of last year's drought. As many as 14 of the 23 areas of
manufacturing recorded a high two-digit growth rate in exports in the first quarter. At the same time,
the stepped-up pace of investment growth reflected on the higher imports of equipment and
intermediate goods, which played a key role in total imports growth (11.9% year-on-year).
In addition, the net inflow of capital in the first quarter fully covered the current account deficit,
contributing to the continuation of appreciation pressures in the foreign exchange market. As for the
composition of inflows, foreign direct investment maintained a high inflow, posting growth of around
2% year-on-year and still channelled to export-oriented sectors. The foreign direct investment inflow
was additionally boosted by portfolio investment in conditions of non-residents' investment in five- and
ten-year dinar government securities.
The net inflow of foreign direct investment, which is estimated at around EUR 2.6 billion this year, will
ensure the full coverage of the current account deficit for the fourth year straight. In the years ahead,
we expect to maintain the full coverage of the current account deficit by long-term external sources of
finance, which would support dynamic exports growth in the medium-term. With this in mind, our
assessment is that Serbia has remained on the path of lowering external imbalances over the medium
run.
Economic activity grew for the tenth consecutive quarter, exceeding our early-year expectations in
the first quarter
In such conditions, GDP growth accelerated in the first quarter, even more so than we expected in the
February Inflation Report. According to our estimate, a key contribution to the pick-up in growth to 4.5%
year-on-year in the first quarter came from fixed investment. If the rise in total fixed investment
continues at a similar pace for the remainder of the year, we estimate its share in GDP to reach around
22%. This is an important assumption for creating a basis for the acceleration of economic growth to
around 4% in the medium run.
Taking into account the further improvement in the business environment, favourable monetary
conditions, faster implementation of infrastructure projects and positive labour market trends, we
estimate that growth will be driven by domestic demand, investment and household consumption. We
also expect that exports will retain double-digit growth rates on the back of earlier investment and the
rise in external demand. We expect higher investment to also push up imports of equipment and
intermediate goods.
Chart 9 GDP growth projection
(y-o-y rates, in %)
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Source: NBS.
* * *
Ladies and gentlemen, dear colleagues,
I would like to conclude the first part of the conference with the actual and expected movement of
inflation and the monetary policy measures adopted.
In year-on-year terms, inflation has slowed down since the start of the year. The slowdown was
anticipated and stated in the previous issues of the Report, though it was stronger than expected. This
resulted from lower dinar-denominated import prices due to low inflation in the international
environment and the dinar's appreciation in the previous period, and from the still low food production
costs. That inflationary pressures are still low is suggested also by core inflation, which declined to 0.8%
year-on-year in March and April, its lowest level since changes in consumer prices have been used as a
measure of inflation. Compared to the previous Inflation Report, short-term inflation expectations fell
even more - to 2.5% for the financial and 2.8% for the corporate sector, remaining anchored within the
target corridor. These are the main reasons why the new medium-term inflation projection is somewhat
lower than the previous one.
Chart 10 Contribution of CPI components to y-o-y inflation Chart 11 One-year ahead inflation expectations
(in pp) (y-o-y rates, in %)
16
15
Corporate sector
13
Financial sector*
11
Financial sector - Bloomberg
12
9
7
5
8
3
1
-1
4
-3
1 4 7101 4 7101 4 7101 4 7101 4 7101 4 7101 4 7101 4 7101 4
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
0
Petroleum product prices
1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1 5 9 1
Administered prices
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Nonfood core Inflation
Source: Gallup, Ipsos/Ninamedia, Bloomberg and NBS.
Processed food prices
Fruit and vegetable prices
* Ipsos and Gallup agencies until December 2014, Ninamedia agency since December
Sources: SORS and
Consumer prices (%) 2014, and Ipsos agency since January 2018.
NBS calculation.
After reaching this year's low in April, we expect inflation to gradually approach the target in the
coming period, though this year it will remain close to the lower bound of the target tolerance band.
We expect inflation to approach the 3.0% midpoint in the second half of 2019, and to remain stable
around that level until the end of the projection horizon.
In view of this, we expect inflation to remain low and stable in the coming period as well. In other
words, in the medium term, year-on-year inflation will move within the target tolerance band
(3.0%±1.5%) until the end of the projection horizon, i.e. in the next two years, also owing to a gradual
recovery in domestic demand. Medium-term inflation expectations of the financial and corporate
sectors are also anchored at the target midpoint of the National Bank of Serbia.
* * *
Monetary policy easing amid low inflationary pressures helps speed up lending and economic activity,
which, along with the efforts to resolve non-performing loans, made the share of these loans fall
below the pre-crisis level.
By carefully monitoring and analysing the developments in the domestic and international environment,
we assessed that the expected movement in inflation and its underlying factors going forward, along
with the further strengthening of macroeconomic fundamentals, allow for additional monetary policy
easing. Accordingly, we decided to further cut the key policy rate in both March and April by 25 basis
points to 3%, its lowest level in the inflation targeting regime. Its sharp drop in the period since the
monetary easing cycle began (May 2013) had a strong impact on the rise in disposable income, thus
contributing to a faster recovery of domestic demand. We made the decisions on further monetary
policy easing taking into consideration not only that the February medium-term inflation projection was
lower than the previous one, both for this and next year, but also that inflationary pressures weakened
further after the February projection. On the other hand, monetary policy caution was mandated by
pronounced uncertainty in the international commodity market, mainly regarding the movements in oil
prices. Caution was also required due to diverging monetary policies of the Federal Reserve System and
European Central Bank.
Monetary policy easing in the previous period significantly drove down interest rates on dinar loans in
the past several years, and created more favourable financing conditions. This and the effects of
economic growth, positive labour market trends, increased interbank competition, a decline in the
country risk premium, and low interest rates in the euro area - contributed to further growth in lending
activity, which, excluding the exchange rate effect, measured 7.5% year-on-year in March. Since the
beginning of the year, year-on-year growth in loans to corporates has accelerated further (to 5.1%),
while growth in loans to households slowed down slightly (to 10.9%). In the conditions of stepped-up
efforts to resolve non-performing loans and the rise in lending activity, the share of non-performing
loans in total loans declined considerably since the Strategy was implemented, by 13.2 percentage
points to 9.2% in March, below the pre-crisis level. Thus, the stock of these loans has been more than
halved since the start of implementation of the Strategy (down by 55%), undeniably pointing to
intensified efforts made to resolve this issue.
Chart 12 Interest rates on new dinar and euro-indexed loans to
Chart 13 Lending activity and GDP
corporates and households* (y-o-y rates, in %)
(weighted average values, p.a., in %)
20 6
24 12
15
4
20
10
10
2
5
16
8
0 0
12
6
-5
-2
8
Dinar household loans (lhs) -10
4
Dinar corporate loans (lhs)
4
-4
Total domestic loans* (LHS)
Euro-indexed household loans** (rhs)
-15
Total domestic loans** (LHS)
Euroindexed corporate loans** (rhs)
0 2 Real GDP (RHS)
-20 -6
1 4 7 10 1 4 7 10 1 4 7 10 1 4 7 10 1 4 7 10 1 4 7 10 1 4 7 10 1
I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I II III IV I
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
Source: NBS.
Sources: NBS and SORS.
* Excluding revolving loans, current account overdrafts and credit card debt.
* Excluding the exchange rate effect.
** Excluding the effect of NPL write-off in the past year.
Looking ahead, in the coming period monetary policy decisions will continue to depend on our
assessment of the impact of inflation factors from the domestic and international environment.
According to our estimate, key risks emanate from the international environment, which is why we will
continue to closely monitor and analyse developments in the international financial market and the
market of primary commodities, and to assess their impact on economic developments in Serbia.
As so far, we will use all our instruments to ensure low and stable inflation in the medium term. I believe
that this, with the preservation of financial stability, is the best way for the central bank to contribute to
sustainable economic growth and stronger resilience to external challenges.
Chart 14
Inflation projection
(y-o-y rates, in %)
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
-1
-2
3 6 9 12 3 6 9 12 3 6 9 12 3 6 9 12 3
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Source: NBS.
With this, I would like to conclude my introductory address and give the floor to my colleagues from the
Directorate for Economic Research and Statistics, who will briefly present the latest inflation and GDP
growth projections. What you will also hear from them is that, according to the new projections as well,
in the coming period we expect to fulfil our primary legal mandate - price stability - by ensuring low
inflation within the target tolerance band, against the backdrop of faster GDP growth, which we
estimate at around 3.5% in 2018 and 2019, and at around 4% in the medium run.