Upper limit on debt to income ratio to be tightened

Economy
misheel@montsame.gov.mn
2019-03-25 18:37:16

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ At its meeting on March 21, the Monetary Policy Committee decided to keep the Policy rate unchanged at 11 percent and to revise the upper limit on debt service to income ratio on newly-issued and term-changed consumer loans excluding pension loans to 60 percent, effective April 1, 2019.

As of February 2019, annual inflation has reached 6.9 percent nationwide and 7.9 percent in Ulaanbaatar city. Fluctuations in inflation are mainly driven by changes in the prices of gasoline, meat and solid fuel, while demand-pull inflation remains relatively stable.

This year, economic recovery is expected to keep its momentum and inflation outlook remains around the target level. The Monetary Policy Committee decided to keep the policy rate unchanged this time, considering demand, supply and external factors underlying inflation, their outlook and sentiment in the business environment. In the event that domestic demand continues to expand sharply, the policy rate may need to be raised in the upcoming periods.

The decision to tighten the upper limit on debt service to income ratio in the wake of upcoming wage increases, serves the objective to gradually ease household debt burden that surged during the past years, reaching substantially high level.

The Monetary Policy Committee’s decisions are consistent with the Bank of Mongolia’s objectives to keep inflation rate around the target rate and to ensure macroeconomic and financial stability in the medium term.

Source: mongolbank.mn