Gambia’s central bank held its benchmark interest rate at 17.0% to sustain the declining trend in domestic inflation, which slowed to 18% in October. The Required Reserve Ratio for commercial banks remains at 13%, and the rates for the standing deposit and lending facilities are unchanged at 3% and 18%, respectively. Private sector credit growth decelerated, and the country’s GDP growth is projected at 5.3% for 2023. FX reserves stood at USD 389 mln at the end of September.