Among the other benefits that have been mentioned, we expect that this level of coverage would help the small banks to expand their funding base and, over time, contribute to the diversification of the banking sector.
Moreover, the unemployment rate fell to 8.6 per cent by year-end from 9.8 per cent at the end of 1996. BIS Review 7/1998  -2-  Inflation has remained low, and within our target range of 1 to 3 per cent for most of 1997, although it did end the year somewhat below target.