Household Consumption Expenditure Survey shows urban-rural gap has narrowed, particularly at lower levels of consumption, implying effectiveness of govt policies in improving rural incomes.
RBI has retained its inflation projection at 5.4% for the current year. Uncertainties in food prices and volatility in global crude oil prices continue to keep 4% target out of reach.
Indian Council of Applied Economic Research study says bans on export of wheat & rice were ‘knee-jerk’ reactions. Govt should adjust its trade policy, not sell at prices lower than MSP.
Food has an outsized weightage in Consumer Price Index, but education and health too little. This is because CPI is based on spending patterns of 'average Indian' from 12 years ago.
Food price hike driven by higher rates of vegetables, pulses & their products, spices, eggs, meat and fish. While jump in vegetable prices expected, inflation in cereals & their products worrying.
Factors like unfavourable weather, uncertainty over oil prices, demand from China’s re-opening & intensification of geo-political conflicts could pose upside risks to inflation outlook.
European Central Bank has raised its policy rate by 50 basis points & US Federal Reserve by 25 basis points with the aim to bring inflation back down to target levels.
While bond yields tend to fall amid low inflation & interest rate cuts, market experts say they’ve been rising due to concerns over tax collections, fiscal deficit & potential impact of US tariffs.
It is one of the most advanced long-range air defence and anti-missile radars. It has been acquired under an about USD 145-million deal signed in 2020.
In its toughest time in decades because of floods, Punjab would’ve expected PM Modi to visit. If he has the time for a Bihar tour, why not a short visit to next-door Punjab?
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