Inflation data: The Consumer Price Index for January declined by 0.9 percent, while forecasters had projected a decline of 0.6 percent, on average. The surprise derived primarily from a relatively sharp decline in the housing component. The reduction in water rates came into effect in January, and contributed 0.1 percent to the decline in the CPI. Seasonal declines in clothing and footwear prices, and a decline in components affected by fuel prices, also contributed to the decline in the CPI. There were increases in the fruit and vegetables, furniture and household equipment, and health components. Inflation as measured over the preceding 12 months was negative 0.5 percent, compared with an inflation rate of negative 0.2 percent over the 12 months ended in December. The direct effect of the decline in energy prices reduced the CPI measured over the previous 12 months by 0.7 percent, and was the most notable factor in the 2.3 percent decline in tradable goods components of the CPI. CPI components representing nontradable items increased by 0.4 percent during that period, as a result of the increase in the housing component. 

Inflation and interest rate forecasts: After the January CPI reading was published, the average projection of private forecasters for the next 12 CPI readings increased by 0.2 percentage points, to 0.8 percent. Twelve-month ahead inflation expectations derived from the capital market also increased, to 0.7 percent, after the January and February CPI readings exited the calculation range. However, expectations for the coming 12 CPI readings derived from banks’ internal interest rates are 0.25 percent. Medium-term expectations were volatile this month, and are currently about 1.7 percent, and expectations for longer terms declined by about 0.2 percentage points, to slightly above 2.0 percent. Based on the makam and Telbor curves, the probability increased this month that the Bank of Israel interest rate will be reduced in the coming months. However, the average projection of private forecasters does not indicate such a reduction. 

Real economic activity: Economic activity accelerated in the fourth quarter of 2014, and based on preliminary indicators it is maintaining a high level in the first quarter of 2015 as well. Based on National Accounts data (seasonally adjusted, in annual terms), GDP increased by 7.2 percent, and business sector product increased by 8.8 percent, in the fourth quarter of 2014, after low rates of growth in the third quarter due to Operation Protective Edge. Growth was led by an increase of 12.2 percent in public consumption, an increase of 41.2 percent in durable goods consumption (due to vehicle purchases being brought forward; private consumption excluding durable goods increased 4.4 percent), and an increase of 9.9 percent in exports excluding diamonds and startup companies. Fixed capital formation increased by 8.7 percent. Goods (excluding diamonds) exports increased by 1.1 percent in January. The Composite State of the Economy Index increased by 0.3 percent in January, and was positively impacted on by an increase in revenue of trade and services industries, an increase in goods exports, and a continued increase in the job vacancy rate. The Purchasing Managers Index increased sharply in January, and for the first time since May 2014 it was above 50 points, the level distinguishing between contraction and expansion of activity. The business sector climate index continues its moderate recovery, indicating a monthly growth rate of 0.22 percent, still lower than the pace in the period preceding Operation Protective Edge. Consumer Confidence Indices compiled by Bank Hapoalim and by the Central Bureau of Statistics increased slightly in January. 

The labor market: Labor Force Survey data for the fourth quarter sharpen the picture of recovery in real activity, and among the main working ages (25–64) they indicate improvement in all parameters: the participation rate increased by 0.4 percentage points, to 79.6 percent, and the employment rate increased by 0.7 percentage points, to 75.8 percent. The unemployment rate declined by 0.4 percentage points, to a historic low of 4.8 percent, with an increase in the number of job vacancies. Nominal wages increased by 0.18 percent, and real wages increased by 0.17 percent, in September–November, relative to June–August (seasonally adjusted data), and a trend of slow but steady growth can be seen in real wages. Health tax receipts continued to increase at a stable rate, and were about 4 percent higher (in nominal terms) in November–January than in the corresponding period one year ago. 

Budget data: The domestic surplus (excluding net credit) in January was about NIS 5.4 billion, compared with a surplus of NIS 4.3 billion in January 2014. Based on trend data, tax revenues increased in January, compared with previous months; compared with January of 2014 it increased by 6.4 percent in real terms (net of one-time revenues). Gross domestic VAT revenues increased by 6.5 percent in real terms, compared with January of 2014. Total domestic expenditure of government ministries in January was about 3.2 percent lower than January 2014. 

The foreign exchange market: From the monetary policy discussion on January 25, 2015, through February 20, 2015, the shekel strengthened by 2.6 percent against the dollar. The shekel appreciated by about 3.3 percent in terms of the nominal effective exchange rate. After a depreciation of 10.4 percent since August in the effective exchange rate, there has been an effective appreciation of 7.6 percent since December, so that the cumulative depreciation since August has only been 2 percent. 

The capital and money markets: From the monetary policy discussion on January 25, 2015, through February 20, 2015, the Tel Aviv 25 Index increased by about 1.8 percent. Government bond yields increased on the nominal curve, though it was moderate compared with the global trend. The yield on unindexed bonds with 9 years to maturity increased from 1.75 percent to 1.83 percent, and the yield across the unindexed government bond curve was lower than the parallel curve in the US, except for the 30-year term. On the CPI-indexed curve there was a marked decline in yields. There were slight changes along the Makam yield curve. Israel's sovereign risk premium, as measured by the five-year CDS spread, remained virtually unchanged, at about 77 basis points. 

The money supply: In the twelve months ending in January, the M1 monetary aggregate (cash held by the public and demand deposits) increased by 40.1 percent, and the M2 aggregate (M1 plus unindexed deposits of up to one year) increased by 8.6 percent. 

The credit market: Total outstanding debt of the business sector declined by about NIS 8.4 billion (1.0 percent) in December, to NIS 816 billion, as a result of net repayment of debt. In January, the nonfinancial business sector issued about NIS 2.1 billion in bonds, slightly lower than the monthly average for 2014 of NIS 2.5 billion. In January, there were net withdrawals from corporate bond mutual funds. Corporate bond market spreads increased slightly from the beginning of February, but they remain at a low level. Outstanding household debt increased by about NIS 3.2 billion (0.7 percent) in December, to about NIS 438 billion. Of that, outstanding housing debt increased by about NIS 2 billion. In January, about NIS 4.6 billion in new mortgages were taken out, compared with a monthly average of about NIS 4.3 billion in 2014. The decline in risk characteristics of new mortgages continues. In January, the interest rate on new CPI-indexed fixed rate mortgages increased by 0.1 percentage points, the rate on CPI-indexed variable rate mortgages increased by 0.2 percent, and the rate on the unindexed, variable rate track increased by 0.1 percentage points. 

The housing market: The housing component of the CPI (based on residential rents) declined by 0.9 percent in January, and increased by 2.7 percent in the past 12 months. In November–December, home prices increased by 0.2 percent, and in the 12 months ending in December, they increased by 4.5 percent, compared with 5.9 percent in the 12 months ending in November. There was a turnaround in the number of transactions, with a sharp increase in November and December—the number of transactions increased by 22 percent in the fourth quarter compared with the third quarter. The increase was mainly among young couples and in purchases from contractors. The trend of moderate decline in the number of new homes for sale continued, but the pace of building starts and building completions remains relatively high. There were 44,000 building starts (housing units), and 44,200 housing units were completed, in the 12 months ending in October. 

The global economy: Inflation in major economies worldwide continues to decline to very low levels: 1.3 percent in the US (core inflation), -0.6 percent in the eurozone, 0.3 percent in the UK, and 0.8 percent in China. Accommodative monetary policy measures were implemented this month in Australia, Sweden, Denmark, China, and Singapore, and there was an increase in the number of countries with negative interest rates, in response to factors such as low inflation, slowdown in activity, and the desire to avoid the strengthening of the domestic currency. In Europe, there was increased uncertainty this month in view of the negotiations between the Greek government and its creditors, and the possible ramifications, but in recent days, a near-term agreement was apparently reached and the markets do not expect contagion to other countries. The European economy grew at an annual rate of 1.2 percent in the fourth quarter, with relatively high growth in Germany, Spain and the Netherlands, in contrast with near-zero growth in France and Italy. The weakening of the euro is expected to support future growth. The unemployment rate declined slightly, expectations indices improved, while in contrast, industrial production continued to contract. In the US, there was growth of 2.6 percent in the fourth quarter (in annual terms) compared with forecasts of 3 percent, inter alia due to the contraction of public expenditure and the effect of the strengthening dollar on the trade balance. A jump in consumer spending and continued sharp growth in employment with an increase in wages indicate improvement in the state of the US consumer, and the possibility of continued acceleration of growth. In contrast, indicators of companies’ situations are less encouraging, against the background of factors such as the strengthening of the dollar, the global slowdown, and the decline in oil prices, which poses difficulties for companies in the energy industry. The median projection of Federal Open Market Committee members is for an increase in the federal funds rate to 1 percent at the end of the year, though market assessments are for a slower increase. Fourth quarter growth data in Japan and the UK were disappointing. Emerging markets are sensitive to global developments such as the strengthening of the dollar, developments in Europe and the decline in commodities prices. In China, the relative slowdown in the growth rate continues, and negative momentum in Brazil is growing stronger, while in India a gradual recovery continues. The price of oil increased sharply this month, reaching $60 per barrel, with high volatility, compared to $46.50 per barrel in mid-January. Metals and agricultural commodity indices increased by 2 percent. Most equity market indices worldwide increased this month, as did the yields on government bonds. 

The main considerations behind the decision: 

The decision to reduce the interest rate for March 2015 by 0.15 percentage points, to 0.10 percent is consistent with the Bank of Israel's monetary policy, which is intended to return the inflation rate to within the price stability target of 1–3 percent a year over the next twelve months, and to support growth while maintaining financial stability. The path of the interest rate in the future depends on developments in the inflation environment, growth in Israel and in the global economy, the monetary policies of major central banks, and developments in the exchange rate of the shekel. 

Concurrently the Bank has decided to narrow the interest rate corridor in the credit window and the commercial bank deposit window from±0.25 percent to ±0.1 percent.

The following are the main considerations underlying the decision: 

The Monetary Committee is of the opinion that in view of the increased rate of appreciation, and its possible effects on activity and inflation, reducing the interest rate to 0.1 percent is the most appropriate step at this time in order to support achieving the policy targets. 

The Bank of Israel will continue to monitor developments in the Israeli and global economies and in financial markets. The Bank will use the tools available to it and will examine the need to use various tools to achieve its objectives of price stability, the encouragement of employment and growth, and support for the stability of the financial system, and in this regard will continue to keep a close watch on developments in the asset markets, including the housing market.