Weekly Economic Indicators - 08 May 2026

08 May 2026 Highlights of the Week Real Sector

At the beginning of the period from 04 to 08 May 2026, crude oil prices increased amidst renewed tensions in the Middle East. Later in the week, prices declined with prospects of a peace deal between the US and Iran. Nevertheless, prices remained highly vulnerable to upward pressure due to the fragility of the existing ceasefire. Overall, by the end of the period, Brent and WTI crude oil prices declined by US dollars 6.49 per barrel and US dollars 5.82 per barrel, respectively.

Monetary Sector

Weekly Average Weighted Prime Lending Rate (AWPR) for the week ending 08 May 2026 increased by 22 bps to 9.79 per cent compared to the previous week.

Broad money (M2b) expanded by 12.2 per cent, on a year-on-year basis, in March 2026 Net Credit to the Government from the banking system decreased by Rs. 11.9 bn in March 2026.

Outstanding credit to public corporations decreased by Rs. 24.6 bn in March 2026.

Outstanding credit extended to the private sector increased by Rs. 258.4 bn in March 2026 recording a year-on-year growth of 27.1 per cent.

The Average Weighted Call Money Rate (AWCMR) increased to 7.76 per cent on 08 May 2026 compared to 7.73 per cent at the end of last week.

The reserve money decreased compared to the previous week mainly due to the decrease in currency in circulation.

The total outstanding market liquidity was a surplus of Rs. 253.66 bn by 08 May 2026, compared to a surplus of Rs. 218.70 bn by the end of last week.

By 30 April 2026, the All-Share Price Index (ASPI) increased by 2.28 per cent to 23,063.98 points and the S&P SL 20 Index increased by 1.80 per cent to 6,319.24 points, compared to the index values of last week.

Fiscal Sector

During the two months ending February 2026, government revenue and grants increased to Rs. 1,031.2 bn compared to Rs. 760.9 bn in the corresponding period of 2025.

Total expenditure and net lending increased to Rs. 861.5 bn during the two months ending February 2026 compared to Rs. 847.5 bn in the corresponding period of 2025.

During the two months ending February 2026, overall budget balance recorded a surplus of Rs. 169.7 bn compared to a deficit of Rs. 86.6 bn recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.

During the week, Treasury Bill yields remained broadly stable in both the primary and secondary markets.

The rupee value of Treasury Bills and Treasury Bonds held by foreign investors remained broadly stable compared to the previous week.

In the reporting week, the auction for Treasury Bills experienced an oversubscription rate of approximately 2.1 times.

The total volume of secondary market transactions in Treasury Bills and Treasury Bonds increased by approximately 12.7 per cent in the reporting week compared to the week before.

External Sector

Year to date depreciation of Sri Lanka rupee against the US dollar was 3.6 per cent as of 08 May 2026.

NCPI(2021=100) NCPI-Year-on-Year%

CCPI(2021=100)