This reflects partly an expected technical reaction to the strong growth seen in the first quarter as well as dampening effects from global and domestic factors, including direct and indirect effects from high commodity prices. Against this background, it remains imperative to avoid broad-based second-round effects in wage and price-setting. In full accordance with our mandate, we emphasise that maintaining price stability in the medium term is our primary objective and that we are resolute in our determination to keep medium and long-term inflation expectations firmly anchored in line with price stability, thereby preserving purchasing power in the medium term and supporting sustainable growth and employment in the euro area. On the basis of our assessment, the current monetary policy stance will contribute to achieving our objective. We will continue to monitor very closely all developments over the period ahead. Regarding fiscal policy, budget plans for 2009 should fully reflect existing policy commitments. This implies that euro area countries with relatively large fiscal deficits need to specify much more ambitious and concrete consolidation measures, especially on the expenditure side. Countries that have already achieved their medium-term budgetary objectives need to ensure that they maintain sound structural fiscal positions. At the current juncture, the steady pursuit of stability-oriented fiscal policies would help to contain inflationary pressures and provide the required budgetary room for manoeuvre to allow automatic stabilisers to contribute to smoothing the business cycle.
2  BIS central bankers’ speeches  The so-far economic activity performance and projections for 2013 support the outlook for positive economic growth close to the previous year’s figure. Foreign demand is expected to contribute positively to Albania’s economic growth, but this contribution is expected to be lower due to unfavourable developments in trading partner countries and relatively low diversification of Albanian exports. Private demand is also expected to be positive, taking advantage of monetary stimulus growth and domestic savings utilization. Finally, the public sector is also expected to provide a positive stimulus. Despite the positive growth, the economic activity in Albania is expected to remain below its potential during the current year and the demand-side inflationary pressures are expected to remain low during this time horizon. The Bank of Albania deems that with a 90% probability, the annual inflation as to four quarters ahead is forecasted to fluctuate within the 0.8 – 3.8% band. Low annual inflation rates and forecast for their continuation over the monetary policy time horizon dictate the maintaining and strengthening of the stimulating monetary policy over the next four quarters. * * * Considering the information summarised above, the Supervisory Council deems that consumer price pressures in Albania remain weak along the monetary policy time horizon and have shifted downward during the last months. Concluding, the Supervisory Council decided to lower the key interest rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 3.75%. This decision aims to create appropriate monetary conditions to meet the medium-term inflation target.