Petrol price hike will fuel inflation:CB

16 November 2011 08:27 am - 0 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

October’s fuel price hike “will cause a marginal upward movement in prices,” the Sri Lankan Central Bank said here on Wednesday. However, it expected improvements in domestic supply conditions, arising from the high growth momentum of the economy would keep inflation down during the rest of the year.

Sri Lanka pondered over a fuel rate hike even as the oil prices in the international market kept heading north. It finally hiked prices at the end of the last leg of local body polls.

The Bank seemed to prefer the hugely unpopular Indian model of oil price hike. It said: “However, going forward, adjusting domestic fuel prices to reflect persistently high international market prices would minimise the adverse impact on future inflation and the economy through reduced price distortions.”

Based on provisional data, earnings from exports as well as expenditure on imports grew further on a year-on-year basis in September 2011. The growth of the latter was mainly due to higher imports of intermediate and investment goods, which included project related imports funded through financial inflows to the government that amounted to U.S. dollars 1,460 million during the first three quarters of the year.

Even though the deficit in the trade account has expanded, higher earnings from tourism, increased worker remittances as well as other inflows to the services account helped contain the impact of the trade deficit on the current account balance.

The Bank said that the outlook for Sri Lanka’s economy remains positive with the economy continuing along the high growth trajectory. Inflation decreased for the third consecutive month in October 2011 with the year-on-year change in the Colombo Consumers’ Price Index (CCPI) (2006/07=100) declining substantially from 6.4 per cent in September to 5.1 per cent in October 2011. Annual average inflation decreased from 7.2 per cent in September to 7.1 per cent in October 2011.

Even though inflation and the inflation outlook remain benign, the Monetary Board is of the view that a change to the existing monetary policy stance is not warranted. “Hence, at its meeting held on November 15, the Monetary Board decided to maintain the policy interest rates of the Central Bank and the Statutory Reserve Ratio (SRR) applicable to all rupee deposit liabilities of commercial banks at their current levels. Accordingly, the Bank’s Repurchase rate and the Reverse Repurchase rate will be 7.00 per cent and 8.50 per cent, respectively, while the SRR will be at 8.00 per cent,” the Bank said. (Source: The Hindu)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 0

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Petrol price hike will fuel inflation:CB

Comments - 0

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Western purple-faced langurs see blue!

Most Viewed in News

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

April 15 declared a government holiday

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

Confusion remains if April 15 is a bank holiday

Former MP Palitha Thewarapperuma dies from electrocution

23 year old youth ends up having his testicles removed

MIRROR CRICKET

How does CSK get best out of Pathirana?

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win

Amir, Wasim return to Pakistan national team

TODAY'S HEADLINES

100 Police personnel trained to target criminals operating on motorbikes

Catholic Church receives full report

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali’s possession of Gota’s Range Rover

We are struggling with severe shortage of staff – Excise Chief

Mendis, Mathews move up in ICC Test Rankings

Security raised for Champions League ties after threat

SLA target four events at Paris Olympic Games

Chamodi, Dewmi spins Sri Lanka U19 Women to big win