It was an econ-heavy evening on the talk shows last night ahead of the central bank’s policy meeting today and following several statements from the cabinet about the import backlog at the nation’s ports and soaring food prices.

What would a rate hike from the CBE mean? If the central bank decides to raise rates when it meets later today it will help prices stabilize in the long term but it will have a negative effect on the state budget, veteran banker Sahar El Damaty told Ala Mas’ouleety (watch, runtime: 13:18), El Damaty is predicting a 100-200 bps rate hike, in the same range as most of the analysts and economists we surveyed for our latest poll.

A rate hike doesn’t always mean new high-interest certificates: It is unlikely that we’ll see banks introduce new high-interest certificates of deposit, she said. “These certificates are very costly to the banks.”

Also getting coverage last night:

• Madbouly’s meetings with senior officials to discuss imports and subsidized goods yesterday received attention on Masaa DMC (watch, runtime: 14:14) and Al Hayah Al Youm (watch, runtime: 2:23). We have the story in this morning’s news well, above.
• Help save children’s cancer hospital 57357: The hospital, which treats thousands of children every year, is at risk of closure as donations dry up due to the soaring cost of living. Ala Mas’ouleety had coverage (watch, runtime: 8:44).
• It’s coats and scarves from now on as we ring in the winter season: Yesterday marked the first day of the winter season and we should expect a gradual decrease in temperatures over the coming days, especially during the nighttime, head of the Egyptian Meteorological Authority’s analysis and forecast center Mahmoud Shahin said in a phone-in with Masaa DMC (watch, runtime: 5:26).