Retail inflation

Why is it in the news ?
  • As per the official data released, retail inflation continued to slide, easing to a 19-month low of 2.05% in January.
  • The food inflation continuing to remain in the negative zone.
More in the news
  • Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI) inflation stood at (-)2.17% in January as against (-)2.65% in December.
  • The ‘food and beverages’ segment registered a deflation of 1.29% in January as against 1.49% deflation a month ago.
  • Inflation for the ‘fuel and light’ category moderated to 2.20 per cent in January from 4.54 per cent a month ago.
  • At 2.05%, the overall retail inflation rate is much lower than the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI’s) inflation projection of 2.8% for January-March quarter.
  • The RBI, on February 7 cut policy rate by 25 basis points, had revised down its inflation projections.
  • RBI cited low food inflation due to excess supply conditions domestically as well as internationally and larger than anticipated moderation in fuel inflation.
  • Experts said headline CPI is expected to stay benign in the coming months and provides room for further rate cut by the RBI.
Concepts
  • The Retail Inflationmeasures changes in the price level of a 'market basket' of consumer goods and services  purchased by households.
  • The headline inflation measure demonstrates overall inflation in the economy.
  • Conversely, the core inflation measure strips the prices of highly volatile food and fuel components to distinguish the inflation signal from transitory noise.
Source
Indian Express.



Posted by Jawwad Kazi on 13th Feb 2019