Morocco’s central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 2.25 percent on Tuesday, saying current borrowing costs were consistent with medium-term inflation and growth outlook.
Inflation, mainly affected by food prices, is expected to ease to 0.6% in 2019 from 1.9% last year, before picking up to 1.2 % in 2020 on the back of improved domestic demand, the bank said in a statement following its quarterly board meeting.
Economic growth will slow to 2.8% in 2019 from 3% in 2018, it said, amid a drop in agricultural activity. Morocco expects to produce 6.1 million tonnes of cereals this year, down 40.7 percent from last year due to a lack of rainfall.
