IMF Executive Board Concludes 2016 Article IV Consultation with Singapore
On July 25, 2016, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the
Article IV consultation1 with Singapore.
Singapore’s economy continues to perform well despite being impacted by a combination of
cyclical and structural factors, originating both at home and abroad. Growth moderated from 3.3
percent in 2014 to 2 percent in 2015, and it was 2.2 percent in the first half of 2016.
Unemployment has remained low, but net employment generation slowed rapidly in 2015 and
headline inflation has stayed below zero since late 2014. In response, macroeconomic policies
have become more accommodative, spearheaded by monetary policy easing and an expansionary
budget. Financial sector and macroprudential policies have ensured financial stability. On the
external front, lower global energy prices contributed to a higher current account surplus in 2015,
though the surplus declined in the first quarter of 2016.
Growth is projected to moderate slightly to 1.7 percent in 2016, as the full impact of the global
shocks experienced in 2015 is felt, and is expected to recover to 2.2 percent in 2017. Economic
activity will be supported by accommodative policies, along with low energy prices and the
ongoing global recovery. However, near-term risks are skewed to the downside, including from
slow global and regional growth and spillovers from renewed global financial volatility.
Headline and core inflation are benign, expected to -0.3 and 0.8 percent in 2016, respectively,
before rising to 1.1 and 1.4 percent in 2017 on gradually recovering energy and commodity
prices. The current account surplus is expected to moderate over the medium term amid rapid
population aging and reforms to boost domestic demand, including through better health care,
pensions, and other social insurance arrangements.