To provide you with some insight into how we work when we make projections for the Norwegian economy, it may be practical to use a tripartite approach: the short-term or current situation, the medium-term or projection period and finally what we call the long-term. The dividing lines are not clearly defined, but are to some extent overlapping as indicated in the chart. Knowledge about the current economic situation is absolutely essential to making projections of economic developments that are useful for monetary policy. We must form a picture of capacity utilisation in the economy and whether it is increasing or decreasing. We must also try to identify the driving forces or disturbances that influence developments. A macroeconomic model will be a useful tool in this connection. Nevertheless, thorough analyses of available economic statistics are the most important source when we are assessing the current situation. To obtain a good picture of the current situation, it is important to consider developments in context and to distinguish between genuinely new information and noise. There is always uncertainty associated with statistics and the quality can vary depending on the source. Frequency and the time from measurement to publication also vary considerably. Economic data are published with a time lag and are often revised. A very useful cross-reference and alternative information channel to official statistics is therefore our own regional network which consists of enterprises, organisations and local authorities throughout the country.
This assessment must also take account of the substantial uncertainty surrounding the calculation of the output gap, and of Norges Bank’s mandate which specifies that inflation shall be 2.5 per cent over time. The inflation gap and the output gap shall normally not be positive or negative at the same time further ahead. If, for example, both gaps are positive, a higher interest rate path would be preferable as this would bring inflation closer to the target and contribute to stabilising output. Depending on the initial situation for inflation and production, it may be difficult to meet these criteria simultaneously. How easy it is to meet these criteria will depend on the disturbances to which the economy has been exposed. There are also other important considerations when assessing the interest rate path. We must assess whether the interest rate path, at least in the next few months, results in acceptable developments also under alternative, but realistic assumptions concerning economic developments and the functioning of the economy. In other words, is the strategy robust? We must also evaluate the consequences for financial stability. Last, but not least, a successful monetary policy requires a reasonably good understanding of the state of the economy and its functioning. I will now discuss this in more detail. Analyses and models at Norges Bank The Executive Board’s assessments of various interest rate paths are based on projections of economic developments, supplemented by other information and discretion.