SINGAPORE - The central bank has further reduced the pace of Singapore dollar’s trade-weighted appreciation in response to easing inflation and rising risks to economic growth amid US President Donald Trump’s tariffs assault on global trade. Inflation has eased, with the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) now expecting core inflation – which excludes private transport and accommodation costs to better represent household expenses – to average 0.5 per cent to 1.5 per cent in 2025, down from 1 per cent to 2 per cent predicted in January. “MAS will continue with the policy of a modest and gradual appreciation of the S$Neer (Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate) policy band. However, the rate of appreciation will be reduced slightly,” it announced on April 14. At the same time, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) downgraded its forecast for full-year 2025 gross domestic product (GDP) growth to a range of zero per cent to 2 per cent, from 1 per cent to 3 per cent previously. Singapore’s GDP grew 4.4 per cent in 2024.     https://www.straitstimes.com/business/economy/mas-eases-singapore-dollar-policy-to-help-economy-weather-trumps-tariff-storm (ICE SINGAPORE)

Fonte notizia: The Straits Times, 14 April 2025