Brazil’s Central Bank Cuts Rates to 11.25% as Inflation Slows

  • Central bankers cut benchmark rate by fifth time, to 11.25%
  • Lula government pressures for more spending as growth slows

Central Bank headquarters in Brasilia, Brazil.

Photographer: Arthur Menescal/Bloomberg
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Brazil’s central bank cut its key interest rate by half a percentage point and promised to keep the same easing pace in the next few meetings, after inflation slowed within the tolerance range and new signs of a weakening economy emerged.

The bank cut the benchmark Selic to 11.25% on Wednesday, as expected by all analysts surveyed by Bloomberg and in line with prior guidance from the monetary authority. Policymakers have now lowered borrowing costs by 2.5 percentage points since August.