Tunisian Central Bank Keeps Key Interest Rate Unchanged

The Central Bank of Tunisia announced today, Friday, that it has kept the key interest rate unchanged at eight percent, and called for vigilance regarding any potential consequences that may arise from the government's request for direct funding from the bank. Three legislators told Reuters on Tuesday that the government requested exceptional direct funding from the central bank amounting to seven billion dinars (2.25 billion dollars) to cover this year's budget deficit amid a scarcity of external financing sources. Economists warned that this move could lead to rising inflation and a decline in the value of the Tunisian currency.