•  First, the record shows that strong oil and gas prices serve to bolster consumer and business confidence. •  Second, these higher prices should strengthen fiscal performance, compared with budget, reducing the projected budget deficit, thus supporting subdued inflation, low interest rates and a strong foreign reserve position. All these factors are conducive to an economic rebound.
•  Banks’ lending rates are the lowest they have been in years and banks have an abundance of funds for credit expansion. And with interest rates likely to remain low for some time, private construction and other projects, which were postponed for the last year, could now be taken up.