Country's macroeconomic and financial status satisfactory, central bank report states

Kathmandu, Feb 2: Nepal's overall economic and financial indicators have remained satisfactory, states the current Macroeconomic and Financial Status report released by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) today. 

According to the status report prepared based on the six-month's macroeconomic and financial data from 17 July 2025 to 14 January 2026, the year-on-year inflation measured by Consumer Price Index (CPI) stood at 2.42 percent during the review period. 

Total foreign exchange reserve reached Rs 3242 billion 450 million, equivalent to USD 22.17 billion. The reserve is sufficient to bear the imports of goods and services for 18.1 months, the central bank stated. 

In the review period, the current account recorded a surplus of Rs 429.91 billion, while the balance of payments surplus stood at Rs 501.24 billion. 

Remittance inflows increased by 39.1 percent in Nepali rupee terms and by 32.3 percent in US dollar terms. In the Nepali month of Poush alone in the current fiscal year, remittances worth Rs 192.62 billion entered the country. 

The report also noted that the current account recorded a surplus of Rs 429.91 billion, while the balance of payments surplus stood at Rs 501.24 billion. 

Towards foreign trade, exports increased by 43.8 percent, while imports rose by 14.2 percent, the report noted. 

Meanwhile, the total government expenditure reached Rs 690.22 billion and revenue mobilization Rs 577.40 billion. 

In terms of monetary indicators, broad money supply increased by 5.4 percent during the review period, while showing a 14.2 percent increase on an annual point-to-point basis. 

Likewise, deposits mobilized by banks and financial institutions during the period grew by 5.7 percent, and loans disbursed to the private sector increased by 3.6 percent, it is stated. 

On an annual basis, the deposit growth rate was 14.8 percent, and the loan growth rate was 6.7 percent. Regarding interest rates, the weighted average interbank rate among banks and financial institutions stood at 2.75 percent, while the weighted average interest rate of the 91-day Treasury bills was maintained at 2.35 percent. 

The weighted average interest rate on deposits of commercial banks was 3.56 percent, and the weighted average interest rate on loans was 7.12 percent, the central bank reported. (RSS)