The Tunisian central bank kept its key interest rate unchanged at 7.5%, a bank official said on Friday. In a statement issued at the end of its meeting held on the same day, the BCT considered that it was necessary to consolidate the ongoing disinflationary process and to bring inflation back to its long-term average, despite the easing

The Council reviewed the recent economic and financial conditions, both nationally and internationally, as well as the evolution of inflation, which, although falling in April 2025, remains above its historical average.

At the national level, after registering a gradual increase, economic growth slowed in the first quarter of 2025, reaching 1.6% year-on-year, compared to 2.4% in the previous quarter. Nevertheless, industrial production returned to growth after several quarters of decline, supported by the resumption of construction activities and the good performance of the agri-food industries

With regard to the external sector, the Council noted a widening of the trade deficit (FOB-CAF), which reached 7,294 million dinars at the end of April 2025, against 4,735 million a year earlier. This increase is explained by an acceleration in imports and a fall in exports, thus weighing on the balance of payments

As a result, the current account deficit widened to 3,260 million dinars (or 1.8% of GDP) at the end of April 2025, compared to 1,074 million (0.6% of GDP) a year earlier, despite the good performance of tourism receipts and work incomes.

Foreign currency reserves stood at 22.7 billion dinars (98 days of imports) as of May 29, 2025, compared to 27.3 billion (121 days) at the end of 2024.