The Central Bank of Zambia raised its key interest rate by 50 bps to 8.5% at its February 2021 meeting, to anchor inflation expectations and restore macroeconomic stability. It was the first rate increase since November of 2019, amid rising inflationary pressures, which are pushing inflation further away from the upper bound of the bank's 6-8% target range. The risks to the inflation outlook are assessed to be tilted to the upside and inflation is expected to deviate further from the upper bound of the target due to the lagged pass-through from the depreciation of the kwacha and sustained fiscal deficits. Meanwhile, high-frequency indicators of domestic activity point to a less severe contraction in real GDP in the last half of 2020 following the partial relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions. In the medium-term, the economy is projected to recover supported by mining, utilities and information & communication. The bank added it stands ready to further tighten monetary policy if needed. source: Bank of Zambia
Interest Rate in Zambia averaged 16.06 percent from 2001 until 2021, reaching an all time high of 68.40 percent in March of 2001 and a record low of 3.90 percent in April of 2010. This page provides - Zambia Interest Rate - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Zambia Interest Rate - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on April of 2021.
Interest Rate in Zambia is expected to be 8.50 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Interest Rate in Zambia to stand at 8.50 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Zambia Interest Rate is projected to trend around 8.50 percent in 2022, according to our econometric models.