This macroeconomic report is prepared based on first month’s data of FY 2019/20 published by NRB. The key macro-economic indicators and variables are highlighted in the table below, and explained in further section:

A. NEPSE and Ratio of Market Cap to GDP

The NEPSE index as at Mid-Aug 2019 inclined by meager 1.13% to close at 1,224.04 points, compared to 1,210.32 points in the same period last year. The market capitalization of NEPSE as well increased from NPR 1,440.17 billion in Mid-Aug 2018 to NPR 1,551.60 billion in Mid-Aug 2019.

On the other hand, the ratio of market capitalization of NEPSE to GDP as at Mid-Aug 2019 has dropped down to 44.79% compared to 47.51% in the last year during the same review period.

B. INTEREST RATES

To evaluate the current scenario of interest rate in the economy, interbank rate and base rate of commercial banks are taken into consideration.

Interbank Rate

The interbank rate of commercial banks which reached a year-high of 6.91% in Mid-June 2019 has dropped down significantly to 1.19% in Mid-Aug 2019 indicating some ease in liquidity in the banking system mainly due to gain in pace in the government expenditure at the end of the fiscal year 2018/19. The interbank rate during the same period a year ago stood at 1.88%.

Base Rate

The base rate of commercial banks stands at 9.45% in Mid-Aug 2019 compared to 10.12% a year ago. This has set the weighted average lending rate at 12.08%. On the other hand, the weighted average deposit rate stands at 6.77%. Such rates were 12.47% and 6.40% respectively in the corresponding month of the previous year.

C. INFLATION RATE

The consumer price inflation which was 4.19% a year ago significantly inclined to 6.95% in Mid-Aug 2019 mainly due to rise in Food & Beverage inflation as well as Non-food & Service inflation which stood at 8.02% and 6.12% respectively in the review month. Within the food and beverage group, prices of vegetable, fruit, spice, meat and fish spiked in the review month. Likewise, within the non- food and service group, prices of the items in housing and utilities; clothes and footwear; and education sub-groups rose significantly.

D. DEPOSIT AND LENDING GROWTH

Deposit Growth: The deposits of BFI’s as at Mid-Aug 2019 declined by 0.65% to NPR 3,331.99 billion, compared to NPR 3,353.93 billion in Mid-July 2019. The decline during the same period last year was 0.33%. The share of demand, saving, and fixed deposits in total deposits stood at 7.9 percent, 32.9 percent, and 48 percent respectively in mid-August 2019. Such shares were 7.8 percent, 34.5 percent, and 46.4 percent respectively a year ago. The share of institutional deposits in total deposit of BFIs stands at 45.2 percent in mid-August 2019. Such share was 44.9 percent in mid-August 2018.

Credit Growth: The credit disbursement of BFI’s as at Mid-Aug 2019 increased to NPR 2,919.71 billion by 0.27%, compared to NPR 2,911.90 billion in Mid-July 2019. The growth during the same period last year was 0.58%. Of the total outstanding credit of BFIs in Mid-Aug 2019, 64.1 percent is against the collateral of land and building and 13.6 percent against the collateral of current assets (such as agricultural and non-agricultural products). Such ratios were 61.6 percent and 14.6 percent respectively a year ago.

In the review period, the loan of BFIs to agriculture sector increased 0.2 percent, industrial production sector increased 1.5 percent, construction sector increased 0.7 percent, transportation, communication and public sector increased 1.8 percent and service industry sector increased 1.5 percent.

Though the liquidity situation is at some ease as of now after the rise in government expenditure at the end of the fiscal year; however, if we compare the credit growth rate of 0.27% with the deposit growth rate of -0.65%, then the credit crunch is likely to reoccur again if the deposit growth rate couldn’t matchup with the credit demand.

E. LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT

In the review period, NRB mopped up Rs.30 billion liquidity through open market operations. Rs.80.35 billion liquidity was mopped up in the corresponding period of the previous year.

BFIs utilized standing liquidity facility (SLF) of Rs.3.30 billion in the review period. Moreover, NRB injected net liquidity of Rs.20.11 billion through the net purchase of USD 178.6 million from foreign exchange market. Net liquidity of Rs.9.69 billion was injected through the net purchase of USD 87.84 million in the corresponding period of the previous year.

F. FISCAL SITUATION

Fiscal Deficit/Surplus

In the first month of 2019/20, fiscal position of the Government based on banking transactions, remained at a surplus of Rs.76.97 billion compared to a surplus of Rs. 57.54 billion in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Government Revenue and Expenditure

In comparison to first month of FY 2018/19, the expenditure of federal government declined by 75.38% to reach at NPR 2.62 billion. On the other hand, the revenue of the government witnessed a growth of 18.74% compared to corresponding period of the last fiscal year. The government revenue in the first month in this fiscal year stood at NPR 72.60 billion compared to NPR 61.14 billion in the first month of the last fiscal year.

G. BALANCE OF PAYMENT POSITION

The country’s BOP position is at surplus in the first month of FY 2019/20 by NPR 6.05 billion compared to a deficit of NPR 24.77 billion during the same period last year. On the other hand, the current account is at deficit by NPR 9.37 billion compared to a deficit of NPR 25.16 billion in the same period of last year. In the review period, capital transfer and foreign direct investment (FDI) in Nepal amounted to Rs.1.03 billion and Rs.1.44 billion respectively. In the same period of the previous year, capital transfer and FDI amounted to Rs.1.70 billion and Rs.295.7 million respectively.

WORKERS’ REMITTANCE

The workers’ remittance growth rate is subject to differ in terms of US Dollar and Nepalese Currency based on exchange rate of NPR with US Dollar. Hence, the workers’ remittance growth in terms of US Dollar and NPR has been presented below:

Remittance in Dollar Terms

In US Dollar terms, the annual data of FY 2019/20 shows that worker’s remittance growth has witnessed an increment of 0.65% to reach at $675.88 million compared to 24.01% growth in 2018/19.

Remittance in NPR terms

On the other hand, in NPR terms, the workers’ remittance increased by 1.96% to NPR 75.40 billion during the first month in FY 2019/20 compared to a growth of 33.12% during the same period in FY 2018/19.

Net transfer receipt increased 0.2 percent to Rs.84.93 billion in the review period. Such receipt had increased 35.3 percent in the same period of the previous year. As per the data of Department of Foreign Employment, the number of Nepalese workers (institutional and individual-new and legalized) migrated for foreign employment decreased 19.0 percent in the review period. It had decreased 30.8 percent in the same period of the previous year. The number of Nepalese workers (Renew entry) migrated for foreign employment decreased 1.3 percent in the review period. It had increased 1.1 percent in the same period of the previous year.