Polish rates remain unchanged; post-meeting statement signals continuity
Per the full note , the National Bank of Poland held its main rate at 3.75% in September, matching market consensus, with a press release broadly unchanged from July, signaling policy continuity. The Council acknowledged firmer GDP growth and higher CPI inflation driven by fuel prices but saw only a modest rise in core inflation and noted weaker wage growth and falling employment as offsetting factors. The desk at ING sees rates on hold in the coming months, with potential cuts delayed until 2H26, and dismisses any near-term easing despite Governor Glapiński's earlier dovish tilt. This view sits within a stable Polish macro backdrop, with no high-impact domestic events on the calendar over the next month to force a rethink.
What the desk is arguing
The desk argues that the NBP's September hold, with policy rates unchanged at 3.75%, confirms a period of stability, as the post-meeting statement remained broadly consistent with July's tone. Per the full note , the MPC highlighted robust GDP growth in 2Q26, driven by stronger investment and slower consumption, while CPI inflation rose toward the upper bound of the tolerance band (3.4% y/y in August) on higher fuel prices.
The Council sees these inflationary pressures as largely external, with wage growth weakening and employment declining, which mitigates second-round effects. The desk therefore expects flat rates in the near term, with potential cuts not materializing until 2H26. The alternative read—that Glapiński's July dovishness presaged imminent easing—is implicitly rejected, as the desk sees no scope for cuts in the coming month.
Key takeaways
- 01NBP left rates unchanged at 3.75% in September, in line with expectations and consensus.
- 02Post-meeting statement broadly unchanged from July, signaling policy continuity.
- 03Inflation rising toward upper tolerance band, but second-round effects absent due to weaker wage growth and falling employment.
- 04Desk sees no near-term cuts, with potential easing delayed to 2H26.
Market implications
Watch EUR/PLN for rangebound trading as rate differentials remain stable; any shift in NBP guidance or a surprise inflation print could trigger volatility. The next MPC meeting in October will be scrutinized for any change in forward guidance.
Risks to this view
A renewed spike in global oil prices, as seen with Middle East tensions, could push CPI above the tolerance band and force the MPC to reconsider its stance. Conversely, a sharper economic slowdown or a rapid disinflation could bring forward rate cut expectations, undermining the desk's 2H26 view.
Older quick take Quick take Published 16:27 Poland Polish rates remain unchanged; post-meeting statement signals continuity In line with our expectations and the market consensus, the Monetary Policy Council left the National Bank of Poland's policy rates unchanged in September (main rate still 3.75%). The post-meeting press release is also broadly unchanged from July. We see flat rates in the coming months before potential cuts in 2H26 Despite the more dovish tone adopted by NBP Governor Adam Glapiński in July, we do not see scope for interest rate cuts in the coming month Share X LinkedIn E-mail Copy link Share X LinkedIn E-mail Copy link Download Authors Rafal Benecki Chief Economist, Poland Adam Antoniak Senior Economist, Poland Tone of the press release broadly unchanged In the descriptive part of its statement, the MPC noted robust GDP growth in 2Q26, including stronger investment activity and slower consumption growth.
It also highlighted the increase in CPI inflation, driven by higher fuel prices. The Council observed only a modest rise in core inflation and mentioned weaker wage growth and a continued decline in employment, which can be seen as offsetting factors. The summary passages with forward guidance for monetary policy remained unchanged compared with July's statement.
The MPC reiterated that future decisions would depend on the outlook for inflation and economic activity in Poland. The same inflation risks were identified as before: a) the fiscal policy stance, b) changes in the economic activity dynamics, and c) further wage growth developments. Inflation may continue rising, but second-round effects absent The renewed escalation of the conflict in the Middle East has triggered another wave of increases in global oil prices, which has put upward pressure on retail fuel prices in recent weeks.
As a result, CPI inflation in Poland has risen towards the upper bound of the NBP’s inflation target tolerance band (3.4% year-on-year in August) and could stay above 3.5% in the second half of 2026. Consequently, despite the NBP Governor's dovish tone in July, we do not see scope for interest rate cuts in the coming months. Inflationary pressures outside the energy sector remain moderate.
There is little evidence of second-round effects either in Poland or abroad. The presence of two military conflicts, including one on Poland’s border, has made households cautious and increased their propensity to save. The latest ING survey shows that 76.9% of Poles hold savings.
Moreover, neither Poland nor other economies are experiencing fiscal stimulus on the scale seen after the COVID-19 pandemic. Economic policy decisions affecting wage growth are also significantly less inflationary than in previous years, with only moderate increases in Poland’s minimum wage planned for 2026 and 2027 (3% annually) and stable wage dynamics, according to the European Central Bank's wage tracker for the euro area. Taken together, these factors are preventing inflation from spreading more broadly across the economy.
Nevertheless, elevated fuel prices could push CPI inflation as high as 4% YoY in the near term. Rates outlook for the months ahead unchanged Our baseline scenario still assumes that interest rates will stay unchanged over the coming months. Short-term inflation prospects have deteriorated in recent weeks, though.
We project two 25bp rate cuts in the second half of 2026, as inflation is expected to move back towards the NBP's target, although much will depend on developments in energy markets. Tomorrow’s press conference with the NBP Governor is likely to strike a more hawkish tone than in July. Even so, we expect the overall message to remain more cautious than current market pricing, which implies more than 75bp of interest rate hikes.
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