{
  "id": 13047587,
  "title": "Tunisia Holds Rate at 7% as Energy Imports Jump 28%",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/tunisia-holds-rate-at-7-as-energy-imports-jump-28",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-09T05:27:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Rio Times",
    "slug": "the-rio-times",
    "url": "https://www.riotimesonline.com/tunisia-central-bank-rate-2026/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Central Bank of Tunisia maintained its policy rate at 7.00% on Wednesday, October 7th, warning that higher energy costs are eroding the country's foreign reserves. With energy imports surging 28% to reach 11.3 billion dinars (about US$3.8 billion) by the end of August, reserves have dwindled to 23.7 billion dinars, covering only 92 days of imports - a decrease from 104 days a year earlier. The board noted that inflation risks are leaning upward and stands ready to act if price pressures intensify. Despite rising food prices, the bank's core inflation gauge remains at 5.1%, indicating that a rate increase would have limited impact on certain goods. The weaker dinar, now worth more than three US dollars, offers cost benefits for US travellers. However, the slowing economy and higher import costs could dampen demand.",
  "summary": "The Central Bank of Tunisia kept its policy rate at 7% as inflation rose to 5.6% and a US$3.8 billion energy bill thinned the country's reserves. The post Tunisia Holds Rate at 7% as Energy Imports Jump 28% appeared first on The Rio Times .",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}