Monthly Economic Review for September 2019
- Details
- Category: Economic Releases
- Last Updated: 14 November 2019
China’s industrial slowdown causes global concern
The Chinese economy stirred international worry considering industrial output is moving at its slowest pace since 2002. This resulted mainly from lower exports to the US which dropped by 16% since a year ago. This highlights how concerning the trade crisis has become between the US and China. The US, however, revealed a 1.9% growth in GDP for the third quarter driven by consumer spending and government expenditure, although this is still slower compared to previous quarters. Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of Australia cut its official cash rate (OCR) to 0.75%, which is the lowest its ever been. This was on the back of slow employment growth and low inflation. As for the Reserve Bank of New Zealand (RBNZ), it left its OCR unchanged at 1.00% as inflation is within target range and employment is around its maximum sustainable level.
Domestic economic performances continue to vary
Activities in the primary sector were mixed in September 2019. Fish exports, more than doubled over the month by 344.8 tons (227.7%) to a record high of 496.2 tons, driven mostly by exports of tuna which rose by 366.2 tons (422.4%) due to more trips made by fishing vessels during the month. Exports of aquarium products, on the other hand, fell by 3,045 pieces (17.2%). Over the year, exports of both marine and aquarium products rose by 1,253.9 tons (142.6%) and 7,727 pieces (3.4%) respectively, in line with the $2.5 million (41.8%) increase in export proceeds for the same period. Agricultural export proceeds, however, declined over the month and year by $0.3 million (23.4%) and $0.7 million (6.2%) respectively. Meanwhile, lending to the agricultural sector rose by $0.1 million (1.0%) in September and $1.1 million (10.3%) over the year. The agricultural sector remains hopeful that squash and vanilla will yield positive outcomes this year due to more favourable weather conditions. The local supply of agricultural products such as root crops and kava Tonga are also improving as reflected by the lower prices of domestic food and kava compared to the same time last year.
Partial indicators point to slower activities in the industry sector in September 2019. Lending to the construction, mining & quarrying, manufacturing and utility sectors declined over the month and year to September 2019. Individual housing loans also declined by $0.2 million (0.1%) during the month, however, rose over the year by $7.3 million (3.7%). Import payments for construction materials also declined by $0.4 million (18.3%), and $0.2 million (6.3%) over the month and year to September 2019.
Performance in the tertiary sector were mixed. The number of international flights fell in September by 15 flights (14.0%), resulting in the decline in air arrivals by 795 passengers (7.6%), and departures by 1,456 passengers (13.5%). Consequently, travel receipts also declined by $1.5 million (10.9%) in September 2019.
However, air arrivals and departures rose over the year by 4,764 passengers (7.9%) coinciding with an annual rise in travel receipts of $23.4 million (21.0%). Container registrations rose by 316 registrations (32.6%) over the month as both business and private registrations increased by 123 (19.7%) and 193 (55.9%) containers respectively. Over the year, total container registrations rose by 1,086 registrations (8.9%) driven solely by business registrations which increased by 1,697 containers (26.4%), and outweighed the decline in private containers. This rise further coincided with the $5.7 million (2.3%) increase in payments for wholesale and retail trade imports. Vehicle registrations declined again by 37 vehicles (11.4%) over the month, corresponding to a $0.4 million (23.2%) decline in import payments for motor vehicles.
Demand for labour in Public Administration
The Reserve Bank survey on job advertisements shows that 34 vacancies were advertised in September 2019, compared to 33 in the previous month and 35 in the same month last year. 30 of these vacancies (88%) were from the Government ministries. Over the year, job advertisements also rose by 8 vacancies (1.9 %) due to an increase in the number of vacancies advertised within the services sector. This indicates a rising demand for labour in Tonga and should assist in reducing the unemployment rate.
Headline inflation picks up in September
A 0.1% monthly deflation was recorded in September 2019 attributing mostly to lower domestic prices which outweighed the rise in import prices. The lower domestic prices stem from cheaper prices of kava-Tonga and local food. Kava-Tonga has been declining consistently since September 2018, from $150 per kg to $105 per kg. In addition, local food such as root crops, vegetables, marine food and eggs also recorded cheaper prices. Import prices, however, rose over the month and was driven by the increase in fuel prices, clothing & footwear, and imported food items. Food items such as chicken, mutton, onions, and flour recorded higher prices, which also reflects higher prices charged by overseas suppliers on imported meat.
Tonga reverts back to annual headline inflation in September 2019 of 0.4%, following a 0.1% deflation in August 2019, and compared to a 5.5% inflation in September 2018. This was driven by imported inflation which rose by 1.6% offsetting the decline of 1.1% in domestic prices. Higher import prices were noted for alcoholic beverages, tobacco, clothing & footwear, and imported food items such as meat, vegetable, and flour. Fuel prices, however, declined over the year. Domestic prices continued to record negative annual growth of 1.1%, due to cheaper prices of kava-Tonga, Tongan tobacco and local food such as root crops, vegetables, sausages and eggs. This indicates continued improvements in the supply shortages of kava, root crops, and vegetables compared to the same time last year.
Competitive exchange rates
The Nominal Effective Exchange Rate (NEER) index slightly increased in September due to the depreciation of the NZD and EURO against the TOP. The Real Effective Exchange Rate (REER) index rose over the month, however, declined over the year. This indicates an improvement in Tonga’s international trade competitiveness attributed to lower domestic inflation compared to most of its trading partners.
Lower receipts during September
In September, official foreign reserves fell by $0.9 million to $490.8 million, (equivalent to 7.9 months of imports cover) reflecting outflow of imports and loan interest payments during the month. Annually, foreign reserves rose by $38.7 million, but with lower months of import cover due to faster growth in import payments relative to the growth of foreign reserves.
The overall Overseas Exchange Transactions (OET) balance recorded a deficit as total receipts fell by $13.5 million (19.4%), more than a $1.8 million (2.7%) fall in total payments over the month. Lower receipts was mainly due to lower transfers receipts (both official and private) followed by other receipts from services, exports, and income. Although total payments for services, imports, and transfer payments, fell over the month, they were partially offset by the increase in interest payments on government loans.
Additionally, the OET balance surplus lowered over the year underpinned by net outflows from the financial account for offshore investments and import payments. These have partially offset the rise in receipts from travel, remittance, and exports.
Broad money declined
Broad money fell by $7.7 million (1.3%) mainly on lower net foreign assets coupled with decreased net domestic assets. The decline in other foreign assets and foreign reserves lowered the net foreign assets while higher capital accounts resulted in lower net domestic assets. Over the year, broad money declined by $0.7 million (0.1%) due to lower net domestic assets underpinned by higher capital accounts, offsetting the growing net foreign assets.
Liquidity grew in September
Higher government deposits expanded the liquidity in the banking system over the month of September by $6.1 million (1.9%) to $317.4 million. However, over the year higher payments made by the commercial banks lowered the liquidity in the banking system by $6.2 million (1.9%).
Slowing credit growth
Both businesses and household loans slowed over the month by $0.7 million (0.6%), but increased over the year by $34.9 million (7.6%) to $493.9 million. The monthly decline resulted from lower lending to state-owned enterprises, wholesale & retail, manufacturing and construction sectors, as well as lower household loans mostly other personal loans. Contrastingly, household loans grew over the year mostly for housing, thus driving the annual rise in total lending. This was further supported by more business loans made to state-owned enterprises, professional & other services, transport, tourism and agricultural sectors over the year.
The banks’ total loans to deposit ratio slightly decreased from 79.0% to 78.6% over the month, reflecting loans decreasing faster than deposits.
Interest rate spread narrowed
Over the month and year to September 2019, the weighted average interest rate spread narrowed by 5.7 basis points and 3.6 basis points, respectively, to 6.06%. The monthly decline was due mainly to a decrease in weighted average lending rates coupled with an increase in weighted average deposit rates. Lower lending rates were mostly for businesses such as fisheries, tourism and construction sectors, as well as household housing and other personal loans. On the other hand, higher deposits rates was due mainly to increasing demand and saving deposit rates outweighing the decline in time deposit rates.
Over the year, the weighted average lending rates declined more than the decrease in weighted average deposits rates resulting in lower weighted average interest rates spread. Lower lending rates was mainly for businesses such as tourism, agriculture and transport sectors, whereas the decreased time deposit rates drove the lower weighted average deposit rates.
Outlook
The Reserve Bank still expects positive domestic economic activity in the medium term. Foreign reserves is at comfortable levels way above the minimum of 3 months of imports cover, while inflation is below the Reserve Bank’s reference rate of 5%. Credit growth is expected to continue growing underpinned by excess liquidity in the banking system although at a slower pace as well as new strategies by the commercial banks. The Reserve Bank considers its current accommodative monetary policy stance appropriate at this time. However, the Reserve Bank continues to be vigilant in closely monitoring developments in the domestic and global economies and stands ready to adjust its monetary policy setting to ensure financial and macroeconomic stability are maintained.
Monthly Economic Review Releases
Monthly Economic Review Releases for 2019
 |
September Released on 14 November 2019 | 417 KB |
||
|
July Released on 24 September 2019 | 423 KB |
|
August Released on 8 November 2019 | 119 KB |
|
May Released on 24 July 2019 | 118 KB |
|
June Released on 19 August 2019 | 119 KB |
|
March Released on 16 May 2019 | 129 KB |
|
April Released on 18 June 2019 | 145 KB |
|
January Released on 14 March 2019 | 129 KB |
|
February Released on 23 April 2019 | 129 KB |
2018
|
November Released on 18 January 2019 | 115 KB |
|
December Released on 15 February 2019 | 121 KB |
|
October Released on 27 December 2018 | 361 KB |
|
September Released on 27 November 2018 | 383 KB |
|
July Released on 21 September 2018 | 383 KB |
|
August Released on 11 October 2018 | 383 KB |
|
May Released on 3 August 2018 | 171 KB |
|
June Released on 21 August 2018 | 431 KB |
|
March Released on 14 May 2018 | 165 KB |
|
April Released on 18 June 2018 | 395 KB |
|
January Released on 16 March 2018 | 400 KB |
|
February Released on 11 April 2018 | 494 KB |
2017
|
December Released on 16 February 2018 | 422 KB |
|
November Released on 22 January 2018 | 414 KB |
|
October Released on 18 December 2017 | 125 KB |
|
September Released on 1 December 2017 | 317 KB |
|
August Released on 1 November 2017 | 391 KB |
|
July Released on 6 October 2017 | 423 KB |
|
June Released on 28 August 2017 | 125 KB |
|
May Released on 2 August 2017 | 403 KB |
|
April Released on 10 July 2017 | 421 KB |
|
March Released on 8 June 2017 | 121 KB |
|
February Released on 27 April 2017 | 425 KB |
|
January Released on 30 March 2017 | 420 KB |
2016
|
December Released on 3 March 2017 | 421 KB |
|
November Released on 3 February 2017 | 398 KB |
|
October Released on 16 December 2016 | 448 KB |
|
September Released on 15 November 2016 | 532 KB |
|
August Released on 21 October 2016 | 196 KB |
|
July Released on 29 September 2016 | 839 KB |
|
June Released on 25 August 2016 | 822 KB |
|
May Released on 21 July 2016 | 665 KB |
|
April Released on 21 June 2016 | 481 KB |
|
March Released on 20 May 2016 | 475 KB |
|
February Released on 26 April 2016 | 932 KB |
|
January Released on 29 March 2016 | 461 KB |
2015
|
December Released on 24 February 2016 | 593 KB |
|
November Released on 18 January 2015 | 709 KB |
|
October Released on 23 December 2015 | 320 KB |
|
September Released on 18 November 2015 | 395 KB |
|
August Released on 23 October 2015 | 405 KB |
|
July Released on 22 September 2015 | 365 KB |
|
June Released on 14 August 2015 | 490 KB |
|
May Released on 24 July 2016 | 383 KB |
|
April Released on 15 June 2015 | 500 KB |
|
March Released on 18 May 2015 | 523 KB |
|
February Released on 17 April 2015 | 375 KB |
|
January Released on 11 March 2015 | 395 KB |
ECONOMIC RELEASES