Price stability, on the basis of permanent low inflation, is an essential precondition for the economy to be able to achieve sustainable potential growth rates and thereby deliver lasting improvements in living standards for all sectors of our society.
The Bank therefore remains dedicated to its task of keeping inflation within the target range, and will continue to be ready to take prompt action whenever necessary to that end. In the banking sector, financial stability has been restored after the serious liquidity problems experienced in the first half of 2002.