Norges Bank

Staff Memo

The effect of higher interest rates on household disposable income and consumption - a static analysis of the cash-flow channel

Author:
Karsten Gerdrup and Kjersti Næss Torstensen
Series:
Staff Memo
Number:
3/2018

Household debt in Norway has risen substantially over the past 15-20 years relative to both disposable income and bank deposits. An increase in interest rates will therefore reduce disposable income for Norwegian households more than previously. Changes in interest rates can have a direct impact on household consumption via changes in disposable income - an effect generally referred to as the cash-flow channel. In this article, we use tax data from Statistics Norway for all Norwegian households in the period between 2004 and 2015 to shed light on how the cash-flow channel has developed over time. In line with developments in net household debt, we nd that the cash-flow effect has become stronger in recent years, but that the increase is somewhat smaller than the total increase in net interest expenses in isolation would imply, owing to increased buffers in the form of liquid assets.

Staff Memos present reports and documentation written by staff members and affiliates of Norges Bank, the central bank of Norway. Views and conclusions expressed in Staff Memos should not be taken to represent the views of Norges Bank.

ISSN 1504-2596 (online)

Published 25 April 2018 12:30
Published 25 April 2018 12:30