Dominican Republic’s Central Bank Maintains Interest Rate At 7% Annually

• In its July 2024 monetary policy meeting, the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic (BCRD) decided to keep its policy interest rate (TPM) steady at 7.00% annually. This decision reflects the evolution of the international environment, particularly the sustained high interest rates in the United States, increased commodity prices, and higher container shipping costs.
• The BCRD also announced that the overnight liquidity expansion facility rate remains at 7.50% annually, while the overnight deposit rate continues at 5.50% annually. These decisions consider the robust performance of the Dominican economy and the growth of private credit, with inflation remaining within the target range of 4.0% ± 1.0%.
• Interannual inflation in the Dominican Republic has significantly decreased, standing at 3.46% in June 2024, within the lower range of the target due to the monetary and fiscal policies implemented over the past year. Core inflation, which excludes the most volatile components of the basket and is more directly associated with monetary conditions, was around the target center at 3.98% in June 2024.
• National economic activity expanded by 6.2% year-on-year in June, with an average growth of 5.1% in the first half of 2024, aligning with its potential. The economy is expected to grow by around 5% in 2024, one of the highest expansions in the region, according to international organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
• Relative exchange rate stability has been maintained, and international reserves have increased to over US$15.2 billion in July, equivalent to more than 12% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and around six months of imports, exceeding the metrics recommended by the IMF.

 (Source: Dominica Today)