Tag: Elections

Core Inflation Heats Up

As expected yearly inflation fell in October as temporarily weaker food and energy prices more than offset the impact of the foreign exchange pass through (1.5% m/m, 7.6% y/y). The figures seemed to be slightly above the estimates. The upward surprise was on the back of the clothing prices that saw the highest increase in the basket.

The only positive outcome of the October’s inflation report was the producer prices that fell 0.2%. Given the analysts’ predictions of a 1.1% increase this was even a greater surprise. Lower import prices appeared to be reflected here owing to the depressed global commodity prices and the lira appreciation during the month. We may see weaker cost-led inflation pressures in the upcoming period.

Turkey - Producer and Consumer Price Index

The scariest part of the report was the further deterioration in core inflation. Pseudo-core inflation indicator known as CPI-I (or I index) roughly rose by 70 basis point to 11-month high at 8.92%. More dramatically, the momentum calculated as an annualized 3-month moving average seasonally adjusted m/m percentage, indicated a run-rate above 13% which was far above the 5% headline CPI target of the central bank.

Bringing the matter to the table, this may urge the central bank stick to tight monetary policy implemented recently by keeping averaging funding cost just below 9%. Nevertheless, the bank’s stance has been clearly insufficient to restore domestic and external equilibrium, decrease the volatility in Turkish lira exchange as well as stabilize the inflation expectations.

As known the central bank plans to narrow the interest rates corridor and following that introduce a single policy rate. The policymakers also signal that the US Federal Reserve lift-off would the milestone in this transition period. However, the worrisome developments may urge the Turkish central bank to take faster action towards policy normalization.

Turkey - Inflation Trends

Another point worth mentioning is that the answer of the following question is even more significant than the outcome of the elections: Who will be the in Turkey’s economy team? With aforementioned things, the central bank truly has numerous challenges to face. Moreover, the current Governor Erdem Basci’s tenure is scheduled to end in the second quarter of 2015. In case of politicians with unorthodox views gaining power in the Cabinet, the management of the central bank is likely to revolutionized which would end badly. Therefore, the market will be happy to see Babacan and Simsek on duty who are credited with ability to navigate the economy in the choppy waters.

Central Bank Independence Attacked Again

The 2001 crisis and the following the post-crisis period were important milestones for economic policy-making in Turkey as well as for the monetary policy. In 2002 Turkish Central Bank adopted a modern monetary policy with primary objective of achieving price stability after the bank had been vested with instrument independence in the previous year. Thanks to these efforts, Turkey has been able to keep the annual inflation rates in the range of 4%-12% after experiencing a hyperinflation period in 90s with 3-digit numbers. Indeed, the posted inflation figures can not be considered as favorable outcomes as they are still above the central bank’s target.

Turkey - Inflation Rates

However, the independence of the central bank recently became a point to debate for politicians whom led by President Erdogan, Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekci and Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus who is also a Professor of Economics. Last week (on Jan 16) Mr. Erdogan reiterated his long-established criticism of Turkish Central Bank for not reducing interest rates. Following that, Mr. Zeybekci signaled a change in the law of Turkish Central Bank which organizes the management structure and sets a primary target for the bank. Many pundits attributed this to setting some other targets like growth, employment for the central bank with a law amendment would be a primary agenda item for the new government after the general elections in June 2015.

Interestingly, Turkish Central Bank is more able to cut the interest rates in the upcoming monetary policy committees due to the decline in oil prices and easing inflation rates and is expected to do so by many analysts covering Turkish economics. Therefore Erdogan’s criticism has done nothing but raised the concerns over political pressure on the central bank’s decision. Simultaneously, lira has performed remarkably weaker compared to emerging country currencies, depreciated 2.5% to 2.34 per US dollar.

Post-elections scenarios in Turkey now include a substantial change in the way the monetary policy is made that would lead unpredictable things to occur in Turkish money markets. Investors should carefully keep track of any given remarks by the politicians on the issue.