Palmqvist, Stefan (2013), “Konsumentprisindex i Sverige och Kanada är inte så lika” (The CPI in Sweden and Canada are not so similar) (In Swedish) Post on the blog Ekonomistas, http://ekonomistas.se/2013/11/20/konsumentprisindex-i-sverige-och-kanada-ar-inte-sa-lika/. Reserve Bank of Australia (1998), The Implications of Recent Changes to the Consumer Price Index for Monetary Policy and the Inflation Target. Reserve Bank of Australia Bulletin, October. Reserve Bank of New Zealand (1999), Minor Technical Change to Inflation Target. Press release, 28 October. The Riksbank (2010), The Riksbank removes the tolerance interval from its specified monetary policy target Memorandum, Basis for Decision, 31 May 2010, http://www.riksbank.se/Upload/Dokument_riksbank/Kat_publicerat/Pressmeddelanden/2010/ nr27_beslutsunderlag.pdf. The Riksdag (2014), Committee on Finance appoints top names to evaluate the Riksbank's monetary policy. Press release, 17 June. Skingsley, Cecilia (2015), Inflation-targeting policy after the financial crisis. Speech at Almega, 22 May. Svenska Dagbladet (2015), “Professorn varnar för låga räntan,” (Professor warns about low interest rate) (In Swedish) 18 November. 10  BIS central bankers’ speeches  Figure 1. Stable Swedish economy  Note: The yield differential refers to 10-year government bonds, monthly data. Sources: Thomson Reuters and the Riksbank  Figure 2. Major direct impact of interest rate changes on CPI inflation  Note: Weighted mortgage rate is chained in December 2014 due to an altered measurement method. Sources: Statistics Sweden and the Riksbank  BIS central bankers’ speeches  11  Figure 3. CPI inflation varies a lot more than CPIF and HICP inflation  Note: The CPIF is the CPI with a fixed mortgage rate. HICP refers to the EU-harmonised index for consumer prices.

Against the background of weak credit growth, the ECB is now close to finalising the comprehensive assessment of banks’ balance sheets, which is of key importance to overcome credit supply constraints. To sum up, a cross-check of the outcome of the economic analysis with the signals coming from the monetary analysis confirms the recent decisions taken by the Governing Council to provide further monetary policy accommodation and to support lending to the real economy. Monetary policy is focused on maintaining price stability over the medium term and its accommodative stance contributes to supporting economic activity. However, in order to strengthen investment activity, job creation and potential growth, other policy areas need to contribute decisively. In particular, the legislation and implementation of structural reforms clearly need to gain momentum in several countries. This applies to product and labour markets as well as to actions to improve the business environment for firms. As regards fiscal policies, euro area countries should not unravel the progress already made and should proceed in line with the rules of the Stability and Growth Pact. This should be reflected in the draft budgetary plans for 2015 that governments will now deliver, in which they will address the relevant country-specific recommendations. The Pact should remain the anchor for confidence in sustainable public finances, and the existing flexibility within the rules should allow governments to address the budgetary costs of major structural reforms, to support demand and to achieve a more growth-friendly composition of fiscal policies.