These impulses, as always, are administered under the conditions of an expected inflation performance close to the threepercent target of the Bank of Albania, and stabilized expectations of economic agents for it. The key interest rate cut by 0.5 percentage point by the Bank of Albania at end-October aimed at strengthening the domestic demand and reviving the lending activity. Its effect on the economy is not fully reflected yet, due to the short period of time and the time lags in transmitting the monetary policy. However, its pass-through to the money market, which constitutes the first link in the transmission chain, is a premise for its reflection to credit cost in a second round. In the meantime, our liquidity injecting operations have been successful in guaranteeing the backup of economy with funds, mainly short-term ones. Allow me to make a more detailed description of the economic and monetary developments during this period. *** At global level, the economic activity has been supported by improved overall economic climate, impacting on the improvement of the global economic activity, reduction of risk premiums and stability of global financial markets. However, the global economy and the European one continue to reflect economic vulnerabilities, which are transmitted to low inflationary pressures. This situation conditions also the pursuit of a stimulating monetary and fiscal policy by keeping interest rates at the historical low and by high liquidity injections. Back to the domestic economy, we should state that the new economic data were insufficient during October.

Ardian Fullani: Economic and monetary developments in Albania Speech by Mr Ardian Fullani, Governor of the Bank of Albania, at the press conference on the decision of the Supervisory Council of the Bank of Albania, Tirana, 25 November 2009. *  *  *  In its meeting of November 25, 2009, the Supervisory Council of the Bank of Albania analysed “The Monetary Policy Report for November 2009”. After becoming acquainted with the latest economic and financial developments at home, and following the discussions related to their expected performance in the future, the Supervisory Council of the Bank of Albania decided to keep the key interest rate unchanged, at 5.25 percent. The Supervisory Council assessed that this interest rate is in line with Bank of Albania’s goal to keep inflation close to the target over the medium run. *** Economic and monetary developments over the latest months are featured by low inflationary pressures. Annual consumer-price inflation for October recorded 2.3 percent, being almost in line with its performance over the last quarter. The steady and low inflation rate has been conditioned by moderate pressures from domestic economy, due to: •  Economic activity slowdown during this period;  •  Low exchange rate pass-through of exchange rate depreciation on Lek prices of import goods; and  •  Stabilized inflationary expectations. Easing of monetary conditions by the Bank of Albania, through key interest rate cut in October and continuation of liquidity injecting operations have provided appropriate impulses for promoting the economic activity in the future.