Romania Cuts Benchmark Interest Rate for Third Time in a Row

Romania’s central bank cut its benchmark interest rate for the third time in as many meetings as a record-low inflation rate makes room for further easing this year to boost economic growth amid Europe’s debt crisis.

The Bucharest-based Banca Nationala a Romaniei lowered the monetary policy rate to a record-low 5.5 percent from 5.75 percent, it said today in an e-mailed statement. The reduction was expected by 13 of 15 economists surveyed by Bloomberg. Two forecast no change.