suggests that aggregate demand remains sluggish and economic growth below potential. economic activity has been mostly driven by the external demand and a higher fiscal stimulus, while the contribution of consumption and private investment remains low. the latter continue to suffer from the uncertain outlook, the lower increase in disposable income, the spare production capacities, and the relatively tight lending standards. these factors have been reflected in albanian households ’ increasing propensity to save and businesses ’ reluctance to invest. external demand and the favourable weather conditions increased albanian exports by about 34. 6 % in january. in light of the poor consumption and investment levels, which have reflected in the decline of imports by 8. 1 % during this period, this tendency has improved the external position of the albanian economy further. bis central bankers ’ speeches albania ’ s trade deficit shrank 32. 5 % in january. the developments in the external sector of the albanian economy reflected in improved foreign currency demand and supply ratios, contributing, in turn, to a stable exchange rate. the albanian government pursued an accommodating fiscal policy in the first two months of 2013, expressed in the increase of public expenditure and widening budget deficit. budget expenditure increased at an annualised rate of 1. 3 % in january and february. this increase was reflected in both current and capital expenditure. amidst the sluggish economy, budget revenues continued to contract, registering an annualised fall of 0. 8 % over the months under review. this performance of public expenditure and revenues increased the fiscal deficit by about 5. 1 %. reflecting upon the expected economic and financial developments, the bank of albania has been pursuing a stimulating monetary policy. through the constant key rate cuts and liquidity injections into the banking market, the bank of albania has aimed at ensuring more appropriate monetary conditions to meet its inflation target in the medium - term period. the financial market evidences low liquidity and inflation pressures, which, in turn, have enabled the pass - through of monetary easing into the money and primary market. interbank market rates soon reflected the last key interest rate cut and the yields on government debt securities continued to drop. the falling interest rates were mostly reflected in the deposit market rather than in the credit market, signalling a more conservative bank approach to lending and a savings - oriented real sector. monetary indicators have performed in line with the developments in the real economy and the monetary inflationary pressures remain low. money supply decelerated its growth rates further in january to 4. 9 %

. the slowing money supply has reflected the low business and household demand for borrowing, and the lower budget deficit financing from the banking system. the annual growth of lending to the economy continued to decelerate to record lows of 2. 1 % in january. the poor performance of lending is evidenced in all categories and currency denominations, both for businesses and households. * * * the new available information does not alter our baseline projection for the performance of the economy over the current year ; however, it evidences a shift in the balance of risks to the downside. the albanian economy is expected to grow at low and below - potential rates, reflecting the slowing external demand, poor consumption and private investment and a positive fiscal stimulus based on the planned budget for this year. against a background of a negative output gap and in the absence of global market and liquidity pressures on the albanian economy, the inflationary pressures are expected to remain low. at the end of discussions, the supervisory council decided to keep the key interest rate unchanged, at 3. 75 %. the outlook of economic and financial developments inside and outside albania establishes the continuation of an accommodating monetary conditions cycle over the monetary policy - relevant horizon. this policy establishes the proper conditions to meet the inflation target in the medium - term period, contributing at the same time to the growth of aggregate demand and full utilisation of production capacities in the economy. in its meeting today, the supervisory council decided to amend some regulations relating to banking system activity. these amendments strengthen the monetary policy transmission mechanism and establish better conditions to boost lending. they harmonize well with the easing monetary policy and help stimulate economic activity in albania. more specifically, the approved amendments increase the level of liquidity allowed for banks'use and provide the banking system with greater room to use the financial leverage. both these initiatives provide a direct impact on a faster growth of lending to the economy. bis central bankers ’ speeches