This macroeconomic report is prepared based on annual data of FY 2019/20 published by NRB. The key macro-economic indicators and variables are highlighted in the table below, and explained in further section:

A. NEPSE and Ratio of Market Cap to GDP

The NEPSE index on Mid-July 2020 increased by 8.21% to close at 1362.35 points, compared to 1259.02 points in the same period last year. The market capitalization of NEPSE as well increased from NPR 1567.50 billion in Mid-July 2019 to NPR 1792.76 billion in Mid-July 2020.

On the other hand, the ratio of market capitalization of NEPSE to GDP as on Mid-July 2020 has increased to 47.59% compared 45.32% in the last year during the same review period.

B. INTEREST RATES

To evaluate the current scenario of interest rate in the economy, interbank rate and base rate of commercial banks are taken into consideration.

Interbank Rate

The interbank rate of commercial banks which reached a year-high of 6.91% in Mid-June 2019 stands at 0.35% in Mid-July 2020 indicating some liquidity excess in the banking system. The interbank rate during the same period a year ago stood at 6.91%.

Base Rate

The base rate of commercial banks stands at 8.50% in Mid-July 2020 compared to 9.57% a year ago, which means borrowing money from bank has become cheaper compared to a year ago. This has set the weighted average lending rate at 10.11%. On the other hand, the weighted average deposit rate stands at 6.01%. Such rates were 12.13% and 6.60% respectively in the corresponding month of the previous year.

C. INFLATION RATE

The consumer price inflation which was 6.00% a year ago significantly inclined to 4.78% in Mid-July 2020, mainly due to rise in Food & Beverage inflation as well as Non-food & Service inflation which stood at 5.73% and 4.04% respectively in the review month. Within the food and beverage group, the price of pulses and legumes, meat and fish, tobacco products and alcoholic drinks subgroups rose significantly in the review month. Within the non-food and service group, the price of miscellaneous goods and services, clothes and footwear, health, housing and utilities and furnishing and household equipment subgroups rose moderately in the review month.

D. DEPOSIT AND LENDING GROWTH

Deposit Growth: The deposits of BFI’s as at Mid-July 2020 increased by 17.18% to NPR 3,930.17 billion, compared to NPR 3,353.93 billion in Mid-July 2019. The growth during the same period last year was 18.24%. The share of demand, saving, and fixed deposits in total deposits stands at 10.00 percent, 31.90 percent and 48.6 percent respectively in mid-July 2020. Such shares were 9.70 percent, 32.80 percent and 46.30 percent respectively a year ago. The share of institutional deposits in total deposits of BFIs stands at 44.30 percent in mid-July 2020. Such share was 45.3 percent in mid-July 2019.

Credit Growth: The credit disbursement of BFI’s as at Mid-July 2020 increased to NPR 3,266.01 billion by 12.16%, compared to NPR 2,911.90 billion in Mid-July 2019. The growth during the same period last year was 20.19%. Of the total outstanding credit of the BFIs, 65.7 percent is against the collateral of land and building and 13 percent against the collateral of current assets (agricultural and non-agricultural products). Such ratios were 64.4 percent and 13.5 percent respectively a year ago.

In the review period, loan of BFIs to agriculture sector increased 16.7 percent, industrial production sector increased 11.5 percent, construction sector increased 12.3 percent, transportation, communication and public sector increased 18.6 percent, wholesale and retail sector increased 7.7 percent and service industry sector increased 22.1 percent in the review period.

If we compare the credit growth rate of 12.16% with the deposit growth rate of 17.18%; the liquidity situation is at some ease, leading to easy access of fund and a great deal comes along making it easier to cease that opportunity.

E. LIQUIDITY MANAGEMENT

In the review period, NRB mopped up Rs.78 billion liquidities through open market operations. Liquidity of Rs.100.35 billion was mopped up in the corresponding period of the previous year.

In the review period, Rs.219.15 billion liquidities was injected including Rs.115.87 billion through repo and Rs.103.28 billion through standing liquidity facility (SLF). Liquidity of Rs.322.49 billion was injected including Rs.168.16 billion through repo and Rs.154.33 billion through SLF in the corresponding period of the previous year. Moreover, NRB injected liquidity of Rs.492.24 billion through the net purchase of USD 4.21 billion from foreign exchange market. Liquidity of Rs.360.91 billion was injected through the net purchase of USD 3.19 billion in the previous year.

F. FISCAL SITUATION

Fiscal Deficit/Surplus   

During F/Y 2019/20, fiscal position of the Government, based on banking transactions, remained at a deficit of Rs.267.45 billion compared to a deficit of Rs.180.50 billion in the previous year.

Government Revenue and Expenditure Growth Rate (Annual)

Government Revenue and Expenditure

In comparison to annual data of FY 2018/19, the expenditure of federal government decreased by 2.74% to reach at NPR 1038.03billion. On the other hand, the revenue of the government witnessed a decline of 4.32% compared to corresponding period of the last fiscal year. The government revenue in the fiscal year 2019/20 stood at NPR 793.78 billion compared to NPR 829.62 billion in the last fiscal year.

G. BALANCE OF PAYMENT POSITION

The country’s BOP position is at surplus in the FY 2019/20 by NPR 282.41 billion compared to a deficit of NPR 67.40 billion during the same period last year. On the other hand, the current account is at deficit by NPR 32.06 billion compared to a deficit of NPR 265.36 billion in the same period of last year.

In the review period, capital transfer and net foreign direct investment (FDI) in Nepal amounted to Rs.14.21 billion and Rs.19.48 billion respectively. In the same period of the previous year, capital transfer and FDI amounted to Rs.15.46 billion and Rs.13.06 billion respectively.

WORKERS’ REMITTANCE    

The workers’ remittance growth rate is subject to differ in terms of US Dollar and Nepalese Currency based on exchange rate of NPR with US Dollar. Hence, the workers’ remittance growth in terms of US Dollar and NPR has been presented below:

Remittance in Dollar Terms

In US Dollar terms, the annual data of FY 2019/20 shows that worker’s remittance growth has witnessed a decline of 3.32% to reach at $7531.27 million compared to 7.84% growth in 2018/19.

Remittance in NPR terms

On the other hand, in NPR terms, the workers’ remittance declined by 0.48% to NPR 875.03 billion during the twelve months in FY 2019/20 compared to a growth of 16.45% during the same period in FY 2018/19.

Net transfer income decreased 1.3 percent to Rs.982.22 billion in the review year. Such income had increased 15.0 percent in the previous year.  As per the data of Department of Foreign Employment, the number of Nepalese workers (institutional and individual-new and legalized) taking approval for foreign employment decreased 20.5 percent in the review year. It had decreased 32.60 percent in the previous year. The number of Nepali workers (Renew entry) taking approval for foreign employment decreased 34.7 percent in the review year. It had increased 5.4 percent in the same period of the previous year.