Why hasn’t RBI cut policy rates despite its lack of control over food inflation?
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Why hasn’t RBI cut policy rates despite its lack of control over food inflation?

Live Mint  

With a 8% fall in stock prices from their peak on 26 September, those who make money from the business of selling stocks seem to be getting jittery. Once RBI cuts the repo rate, the hope is that banks will cut the interest rates at which they lend, people and businesses will borrow more and spend more, and this in turn will help the earnings of companies grow faster, thus ensuring that stock prices continue to rise at the rapid pace they have over the last few years. Maintaining interest rates at higher levels has been one part of this strategy to control non-food non-fuel inflation. This is referred to as ‘narrow money.’ RBI has controlled the growth in narrow money over the last few years so as to control non-food non-fuel inflation. In this scenario, if RBI had decided to cut the repo rate, banks would have cut their lending rates.

Food Inflation Money Control Interest Rates Food Inflation Rbi Banks Deposits New Money Stock Prices Cut Rates Repo Commercial Banks  lack  money  cut  rates  control  policy  repo  deposits  inflation  banks  rbi  food  despite

History of this topic

Growth slowdown: Why lay a deeper economic malaise at RBI’s door?
1 week, 2 days ago

Growth slowdown: Why lay a deeper economic malaise at RBI’s door?

Live Mint  

Chapter 16 in the Book of Leviticus, Old Testament, enjoins Aaron to organize sacrifices and expiate the sins of all Israelites. Various ministers, government officials and sundry industry representatives have been hinting at RBI culpability in India’s economic slowdown and have called upon its monetary policy committee to cut rates in support of growth. The debate began with this year’s …

Retail inflation slows slightly at 5.48%
1 week, 5 days ago

Retail inflation slows slightly at 5.48%

Hindustan Times  

Retail inflation rose to 5.48% last month, a slower pace of increase compared to 6.21% in October, data from the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation showed on Thursday. Despite the slowing pace of growth in prices, the Consumer Price Index-based rate of retail inflation stayed above the Reserve Bank of India’s 4% tolerance level, with two percentage points of …

Retail inflation eases to 5.48% in November from above 6% in October
1 week, 5 days ago

Retail inflation eases to 5.48% in November from above 6% in October

India Today  

India's retail inflation cooled to 5.48% in November, slipping below the Reserve Bank of India’s upper tolerance band of 6% after breaching it in October. "High inflation reduces the disposable income in the hands of consumers," Das noted, adding that food inflation could stay elevated through the third quarter of FY25 before easing. Expected revisions could lower food’s weightage by …

​Staying the course: On the RBI and inflation
Trending News
2 weeks, 3 days ago

​Staying the course: On the RBI and inflation

The Hindu  

The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee, in its latest bi-monthly review, has decided to maintain status quo on the benchmark interest rate of 6.50% for the eleventh consecutive time. India’s retail inflation, after trending below the median 4% target, for the first time in five years, for two months, spiked over September and October, with food prices leading …

RBI monetary policy decision: Is an RBI rate cut coming after Union Budget 2025? What experts suggest
Trending News
2 weeks, 4 days ago

RBI monetary policy decision: Is an RBI rate cut coming after Union Budget 2025? What experts suggest

Live Mint  

RBI Monetary Policy: The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee on December 6 announced that it would maintain the repo rate at 6.5 per cent for the eleventh consecutive time, in line with market expectations. RBI cut its GDP growth forecast for FY25 to 6.6 per cent and raised its inflation projection for FY25 to 4.8 per cent. Sujan …

RBI MPC verdict today: Repo rate to GDP, inflation forecasts— here are 5 key indicators to watch
2 weeks, 4 days ago

RBI MPC verdict today: Repo rate to GDP, inflation forecasts— here are 5 key indicators to watch

Live Mint  

RBI MPC Meeting: Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das will unveil the fifth monetary policy of the current financial year 2024-25 on Friday, December 6, after a two-day review meeting amid recent worrying prints of headline inflation and gross domestic product. “However, with the GDP growth print sharply undershooting the MPC's expectations, a February 2025 rate cut may be …

'Our job is…': RBI Governor defends policy action amid criticism over lending rates
2 weeks, 4 days ago

'Our job is…': RBI Governor defends policy action amid criticism over lending rates

India Today  

RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das defended the central bank’s cautious approach to cutting key rates during his address on Friday. In his statement during the Monetary Policy Committee meeting for December, Das highlighted the importance of maintaining economic stability amidst evolving global and domestic challenges. “As a central bank, our job is that of an anchor of stability and confidence, which …

RBI keeps key lending rate unchanged at 6.5%, focus remains on tackling inflation
2 weeks, 4 days ago

RBI keeps key lending rate unchanged at 6.5%, focus remains on tackling inflation

India Today  

The Reserve Bank of India's Monetary Policy Committee has decided to maintain the status quo on key interest rates for the 11th consecutive time. Consequently, the standing deposit facility stands at 6.25%, and the marginal standing facility and the bank rate at 6.75%," announced RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das during the policy statement. "Tackling inflation is critical because high inflation reduces …

RBI cuts growth forecast to 6.6 per cent, revises inflation estimate to 4.8 per cent for FY25
2 weeks, 4 days ago

RBI cuts growth forecast to 6.6 per cent, revises inflation estimate to 4.8 per cent for FY25

India TV News  

The Reserve Bank of India on Friday slashed its growth projection for the current fiscal year 2024-25 to 6.6 per cent from its earlier estimate of 7.2 per cent, citing a slowdown in economic activity and persistent high food prices. RBI cuts CRR to 4 per cent Meanwhile, to ease the potential liquidity stress, the Reserve Bank also slashed the …

RBI MPC meet: Growth needs a boost, but will inflation hold back rate cut?
Trending News
2 weeks, 6 days ago

RBI MPC meet: Growth needs a boost, but will inflation hold back rate cut?

India Today  

The Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee began its three-day meeting on Wednesday, setting the stage for a critical decision on the repo rate, which will be announced on December 6 at 10 AM. The meeting takes place amid growing calls from experts and leaders for a rate cut to support India’s slowing economic growth. Piyuh Goyal has even …

RBI to keep repo rate unchanged at meeting next week, chances of rate cut in Feb increased: Report
Trending News
3 weeks, 3 days ago

RBI to keep repo rate unchanged at meeting next week, chances of rate cut in Feb increased: Report

Live Mint  

New Delhi, November 30 : The Reserve Bank of India is expected to maintain its policy rate during its upcoming meeting next week, as GDP growth slowed significantly in the second quarter of FY25. It said "We anticipate that the RBI will maintain the current policy rate at its meeting next week, although the likelihood of a rate cut in …

RBI Likely To Hold Interest Rates Amid Inflation Surge; Economists Push Rate Cut Forecast To February
3 weeks, 5 days ago

RBI Likely To Hold Interest Rates Amid Inflation Surge; Economists Push Rate Cut Forecast To February

ABP News  

The Reserve Bank of India is expected to maintain its key policy rate at 6.50 per cent during its upcoming December 4-6 meeting, according to a Reuters poll. A sharp rise in inflation, driven by soaring food prices, has led several economists to revise their forecasts for the first rate cut in the cycle from December to February. RBI Governor …

Ajit Ranade: Inflation control holds primacy as an objective for RBI
4 weeks, 1 day ago

Ajit Ranade: Inflation control holds primacy as an objective for RBI

Live Mint  

Not too long ago, a governor of the Reserve Bank of India said that his main job was to protect the value of your money. In this policy framework, called flexible inflation targeting, RBI had a mandate and a numerical target of an inflation band given by the government. And should not the numerical target of inflation exclude food and …

India’s central bank should adhere to its inflation-targeting mandate
Trending News
1 month ago

India’s central bank should adhere to its inflation-targeting mandate

Live Mint  

Less than four years after the government concluded its review of India’s inflation-targeting regime in April 2021 and opted to keep both its target and nitty-gritty—its target range, indicator, etc—unchanged, its view of inflation targeting seems to be shifting. After commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and then finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman called for lower interest rates, on Tuesday chief …

Inflation behaving more like a magician who tricks you again and again
1 month ago

Inflation behaving more like a magician who tricks you again and again

New Indian Express  

The main culprit is food inflation, which jumped to 10.87%, largely led by vegetable prices that rose by a staggering 42.18% in October. As Deputy governor Michael Patra noted, inflation will likely encounter a hump in the near months largely due to an adverse base and one-off shocks to prices of vegetables, edible oils and gram. The fact that inflation …

Piyush Goyal wants RBI to cut interest rates. Shaktikanta Das responds
1 month, 1 week ago

Piyush Goyal wants RBI to cut interest rates. Shaktikanta Das responds

India Today  

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal shared his opinion that food price inflation should not play a role in the Reserve Bank of India's interest rate decisions. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das had earlier warned that inflation risks could rise due to factors like food prices, indicating that a rate cut should not be assumed. RBI GOVERNOR SHAKTIKANTA DAS …

DC Edit | RBI may have to defer rate cut
1 month, 1 week ago

DC Edit | RBI may have to defer rate cut

Deccan Chronicle  

Consumer Price Index-based retail inflation has crossed the Reserve Bank of India’s comfort level of four per cent in October at 6.21 per cent, compared to 4.87 per cent in the year ago period. The 14-month high inflation figure in October dashed hopes of a repo rate cut by the Reserve Bank of India during its policy meeting in December. …

‘Absolutely flawed…’: RBI should boost growth with rate cut, says Union Minister Piyush Goyal; Governor Das responds
1 month, 1 week ago

‘Absolutely flawed…’: RBI should boost growth with rate cut, says Union Minister Piyush Goyal; Governor Das responds

Live Mint  

The Reserve Bank of India should cut the key benchmark interest rates to boost economic growth and look through the food prices while deciding on monetary policy, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal said. Growth needs a further impetus,” Piyush Goyal told the news portal, also stating that it's an “absolutely flawed theory” to consider food inflation while …

India trade minister says central bank should cut rates, look through food prices
1 month, 1 week ago

India trade minister says central bank should cut rates, look through food prices

Live Mint  

MUMBAI, Nov 14 - India's central bank should cut interest rates to boost economic growth and look through food price while deciding on monetary policy, the trade minister said, the first time a government minister has backed calls to re-examine the nation's inflation targeting framework. Growth needs a further impetus," Piyush Goyal told news channel CNBC TV18 at an event …

Mint Quick Edit | Inflation above 6%: There goes a December rate cut
1 month, 1 week ago

Mint Quick Edit | Inflation above 6%: There goes a December rate cut

Live Mint  

Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das’s warning of inflation rising sharply in October has turned out prescient. With the headline reading now above RBI’s 6% upper tolerance limit, the odds of a rate cut in the monetary policy committee’s December meeting look bleak. Though the rate-setting panel recently shifted its monetary policy stance to neutral, it wouldn’t want inflationary …

Why October inflation numbers may delay RBI interest rate cut
1 month, 1 week ago

Why October inflation numbers may delay RBI interest rate cut

India Today  

India’s consumer price inflation rose to a 14-month high of 6.2 per cent in October, breaching the Reserve Bank of India’s target range of 2-6 per cent, driven by high food inflation. Food and beverages inflation stood at 9.7 per cent in October, in which the inflation on vegetables alone was over 42.2 per cent, a 57-month high. “With mixed …

Spectre of food inflation haunts the economy again
1 month, 1 week ago

Spectre of food inflation haunts the economy again

New Indian Express  

It appears that the common man will have to further tighten his consumption belt. Government data released Tuesday showed vegetable prices were the main culprit, as they shot up over 42 per cent in October from a year ago—higher than the 36 per cent rise in September. Coupled with oil prices rising 9.51 per cent, fruits, cereals and pulses, food …

Retail Inflation Soars To 6.2% In October, Exceeding RBI's Tolerance Limit
Top News
1 month, 1 week ago

Retail Inflation Soars To 6.2% In October, Exceeding RBI's Tolerance Limit

ABP News  

Retail inflation climbed to 6.21 per cent in October, up from 5.49 per cent in the previous month, driven primarily by higher food prices, according to official data released on Tuesday. Data from the National Statistics Office revealed that inflation in the food basket surged to 10.87 per cent in October, compared to 9.24 per cent in September and 6.61 …

India’s 14-month high retail inflation fades hope of December rate cut
Trending News
1 month, 1 week ago

India’s 14-month high retail inflation fades hope of December rate cut

Live Mint  

New Delhi: India’s retail inflation accelerated in October to its highest in over a year largely due to heated food prices, tempering expectations of a rate cut when the central bank’s monetary policy panel meets early next month. India’s retail inflation also breached the Reserve Bank of India’s medium-term target of 2-6% for the first time in over a year—which, …

Can October CPI inflation numbers alter RBI’s monetary policy path?
1 month, 1 week ago

Can October CPI inflation numbers alter RBI’s monetary policy path?

Live Mint  

October CPI inflation: The spectre of inflation continues haunting investors as economists and experts expect India's Consumer Price Index -based inflation, also known as retail inflation, to inch closer to the RBI's upper tolerance band of 6 per cent. According to a Reuters poll of economists, a spike in vegetable and edible oil prices may have shot up India's CPI …

Why Fed rate cut isn’t the only factor shaping RBI meet
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Why Fed rate cut isn’t the only factor shaping RBI meet

Live Mint  

The US Federal Reserve’s 50-basis-point rate cut was a cue to action for central banks around the world. Read this | RBI may change policy stance, tweak growth forecast: Mint Poll As the Reserve Bank of India’s monetary policy committee convenes this week, it faces a key decision—whether to reduce the repo rate or wait for inflation, particularly food inflation, …

Avoid haste on shift to core CPI
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Avoid haste on shift to core CPI

Hindustan Times  

Should India’s inflation targeting framework target the headline Consumer Price Index or just its core, namely, the non-food non-fuel part? REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas/File Photo Inflation targeting, at a theoretical level, is supposed to use interest rates to maintain a healthy balance between inflation and growth. Because inflation targeting is a forward-looking exercise — higher interest rates today are expected to contain …

‘Abandoning RBI’s inflation target regime could be risky, counterproductive’
4 months ago

‘Abandoning RBI’s inflation target regime could be risky, counterproductive’

The Hindu  

The Reserve Bank of India's inflation targeting regime has worked well and need not be abandoned in favour of a more discretionary regime that could be risky and counterproductive, a new research paper has said. The paper titled 'Inflation Targeting In India: A Further Assessment' said the weight of food-price inflation in the CPI inflation basket should be reduced to …

Can the Reserve Bank of India rein in food inflation?
4 months, 1 week ago

Can the Reserve Bank of India rein in food inflation?

Hindustan Times  

On August 8, the Reserve Bank of India announced that it had kept the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 6.5% after the end of its monetary policy meeting — it marked the ninth straight meeting of the central bank in which it held rates at the same level. The paper - co-written by deputy governor Michael Debabrata Patra - cautioned …

RBI maintains calm against global noise
4 months, 2 weeks ago

RBI maintains calm against global noise

Live Mint  

The Reserve Bank of India’s bi-monthly monetary policy orchestrated on 8th August 2024 ensured that the “elephant” was deep in the forest before changing the policy. The RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee voted with 4:2 to keep the policy repo rate and stance unchanged at 6.50% and “withdrawal of accommodation” respectively. Like last policy, the two of the external MPC members, …

Food prices can’t be overlooked for inflation targeting, says Das
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Food prices can’t be overlooked for inflation targeting, says Das

New Indian Express  

Das clarified that while the Monetary Policy Committee might overlook elevated food inflation if it is deemed temporary, the current situation of sustained high food inflation requires the committee to take it seriously. The Economic Survey, released prior to the Budget, advocated for a revision of the central bank’s inflation targeting framework by excluding food inflation. It argued that India’s …

RBI MPC 2024: RBI can’t ignore food inflation while framing monetary policy: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das
4 months, 2 weeks ago

RBI MPC 2024: RBI can’t ignore food inflation while framing monetary policy: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das

The Hindu  

Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das on Thursday said that the central bank can not ignore food inflation while formulating monetary policy. Mr Das said with “high share of food in the consumption basket, food inflation pressures cannot be ignored.” Further, the public at large understands inflation more in terms of food inflation than the other components of headline …

Flare-up in vegetable prices stalls overall disinflationary trend: RBI officials
5 months ago

Flare-up in vegetable prices stalls overall disinflationary trend: RBI officials

The Hindu  

Consumer price inflation rose in June after three consecutive months of moderation due to a spike in vegetable prices halting a disinflationary trend underway in the economy, Reserve Bank of India officials led by deputy governor Michael D. Patra wrote in the July edition of RBI Bulletin. Headline inflation Headline inflation measured by on year changes in the all-India consumer …

Retail inflation rises to 5.08 per cent in June, says govt data
5 months, 1 week ago

Retail inflation rises to 5.08 per cent in June, says govt data

Hindustan Times  

Retail inflation climbed to 5.08 per cent in June due to higher prices of kitchen items, according to government data released on Friday. Retail inflation has increased to 5.08 per cent in June due to kitchen items becoming dearer The Consumer Price Index based retail inflation was 4.8 per cent in May 2024 and 4.87 per cent in June 2023. …

RBI monetary policy: MPC keeps FY25 inflation forecast unchanged at 4.5%
6 months, 2 weeks ago

RBI monetary policy: MPC keeps FY25 inflation forecast unchanged at 4.5%

Live Mint  

RBI MPC Announcement: The Reserve Bank of India maintained its 4.5% inflation projection for 2024–2025 with Q1 at 4.9%, Q2 at 3.8%, Q3 at 4.6% and Q4 at 4.5%. {{^adFree}} {{/adFree}} Das stated that CPI headline inflation softened further in March and April, but that persistent food inflation pressures outweighed the benefits from code disinflation and fuel deflation. With growth …

Monetary Policy Committee Members Stay Cautious on Elevated Food Inflation Risks
8 months ago

Monetary Policy Committee Members Stay Cautious on Elevated Food Inflation Risks

Deccan Chronicle  

Mumbai: India’s strong growth momentum is giving the central bank the policy space to unwaveringly focus on price stability which inturn would help set the foundation for a period of high growth, wrote the Reserve Bank of India Shaktikanta Das in the minutes of the April policy meeting released on Friday. Majority of the RBI's rate setting panel expressed caution …

DC Edit | Cautious RBI targets inflation
8 months, 2 weeks ago

DC Edit | Cautious RBI targets inflation

Deccan Chronicle  

The Reserve Bank of India-led Monetary Policy Committee has once again kept the policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5 per cent. Retail inflation hovered around 5.1 per cent during January and February 2024, which is a marginal decline from 5.7 per cent in December 2023. Food inflation — which is the most important focus area for the world’s populous country …

Food inflation keeps RBI worried
8 months, 2 weeks ago

Food inflation keeps RBI worried

The Hindu  

The spike in food prices has kept the Reserve Bank of India worried even though overall inflation has moderated to a certain extent. RBI Monetary Policy updates | Policy repo rate unchanged at 6.5%; real GDP growth for FY25 projected at 7% The MPC also decided to remain focused on withdrawal of accommodation to ensure that inflation progressively aligns to …

High food prices prevent swifter fall in inflation to 4% target, says RBI bulletin
9 months ago

High food prices prevent swifter fall in inflation to 4% target, says RBI bulletin

Live Mint  

Food price pressures are deterring a swifter fall in headline inflation towards the target of 4 per cent, the Reserve Bank of India said in its monthly bulletin for March 2024, released on Tuesday. “Even as inflation is on the ebb with broad-based softening of core inflation, the repetitive incidence of short amplitude food price pressures deters a swifter fall …

Food concerns in inflation data
10 months, 1 week ago

Food concerns in inflation data

Hindustan Times  

Retail inflation, as measured by Consumer Price Index, stood at 5.1% in January 2024, according to data released by the National Statistical Office on Monday. Some analysts have noted that high-frequency food price data for February suggests that the headline inflation might not change much this month either. However, the lower-than-expected relief in food inflation has only added more weight …

MPC minutes: Inflation outlook clouded by food prices, weather shocks, says RBI Guv
1 year ago

MPC minutes: Inflation outlook clouded by food prices, weather shocks, says RBI Guv

Hindustan Times  

Reserve Bank of India governor Shaktikanta Das, in the December’s monetary policy meet, said that there is uncertain inflation outlook due to volatile food prices and weather shocks, according to minutes of the meeting released on Friday. During the monetary policy committee meeting held between December 6 to 8, all members — Shashanka Bhide, Ashima Goyal, Jayanth R. Varma, Rajiv …

Inflation preview: India’s CPI expected to be around 4.6-4.9% in October
1 year, 1 month ago

Inflation preview: India’s CPI expected to be around 4.6-4.9% in October

Live Mint  

Thanks to easing food inflation, India's October retail inflation, or consumer price index -based inflation, is expected to come in the range of 4.6-4.9 per cent. According to a Mint poll of 17 economists, India’s retail inflation likely cooled to 4.8 per cent in October from 5 per cent in September. Rahul Bajoria, MD & Head of EM Asia Economics, …

Retail inflation likely eased in September, but may be higher than RBI hopes
1 year, 2 months ago

Retail inflation likely eased in September, but may be higher than RBI hopes

The Hindu  

India’s retail inflation is likely to have retreated below 6% in September after two months over the central bank’s tolerance threshold, thanks to cooling prices for most essential commodities and food items, barring pulses that are seeing a sustained uptick in market prices. Bank of Baroda economists, who put out a monthly index on essential commodities’ prices, expect consumer price …

RBI Policy meet: Key things to watch out for
1 year, 2 months ago

RBI Policy meet: Key things to watch out for

Live Mint  

Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das will unveil the fourth monetary policy of the financial year 2023-24 on Friday, October 6, after a two-day review, as it observes the impact of global headwinds on India's macroeconomic indicators such as inflation trajectory and the growth in gross domestic product. Economists expect RBI to hold rates steady According to majority of …

RBI MPC Meet Next Week: The Dilemma Between Growth and Inflation
1 year, 2 months ago

RBI MPC Meet Next Week: The Dilemma Between Growth and Inflation

News 18  

Written By Srikanth Subramanian: The RBI MPC is set to come out with its interest rate decision on October 6. Inflation in August remained beyond the RBI’s upper tolerance limit at 6.83 per cent, but significantly lower than its peak of 7.44 per cent in July. Core CPI, excluding food and fuel items, remained largely unchanged at 4.8 per cent …

Why inflation will keep policymakers guessing, impact festive spending
1 year, 3 months ago

Why inflation will keep policymakers guessing, impact festive spending

India Today  

Offering some relief to consumers, inflation cooled down in August due to easing of food prices, compared to the 15-month high in July. Consumer Price Index -based inflation softened to 6.8 per cent in August, after surging to 7.4 per cent the previous month. Inflation in all commonly constructed non-food CPI categories remained low and unchanged from July: non-food CPI …

Retail inflation eases; food prices still bite
1 year, 3 months ago

Retail inflation eases; food prices still bite

The Hindu  

India’s retail inflation eased slightly to 6.83% in August, from the 15-month high of 7.44% in July, but the rise in food prices remained elevated at around 10% and rural consumers continued to face over 7% inflation. Inflation in cereals moderated marginally from around 13% in July to 11.85% in August but pulses prices maintained their pace, rising 13% again, …

RBI becomes cautious of surging food prices
1 year, 3 months ago

RBI becomes cautious of surging food prices

Deccan Chronicle  

The Reserve Bank of India must ensure there’s no spillover from the surge in food prices, two monetary policymakers said, as the odds for a rate hike begin to build with inflation at a 15-month high. “The key would be to control food inflation itself,” said Shashanka Bhide, who is one of the six members of the monetary policy committee. …

A surge foretold: On inflation data
1 year, 4 months ago

A surge foretold: On inflation data

The Hindu  

The latest NSO data, showing retail inflation accelerating to a 15-month high, comes less than a week after the Reserve Bank of India left interest rates unchanged even as it warned of “a substantial increase in headline inflation” in the near term. The primary driver of this surge was the food price component, with the Consumer Food Price Index-based inflation …

Discover Related