Time to focus on non-food inflation: Pronab Sen

With food inflation coming down to a single-digit figure, the time has come for the government to focus on price rise of manufactured goods, said Planning Commission Principal Advisor Pronab Sen today.

"It's time to stop worrying about food inflation now as that seems to be coming down, and start worrying about non-food inflation," Sen told PTI on the sidelines of a seminar organised by the Asian Development Bank here today.

Sen said though the impact of the sharp decline in food inflation is likely to get reflected in the overall inflation rate also, the non-food categories will neutralise it somewhat.

"It is the non-food inflation which is now driving the wholesale price index. So, that's what on which we will have to keep our eyes open," Sen said.

Food inflation fell sharply to 9.67 per cent for the week ended July 17, from 12.67 per cent in the previous week.

Sen, who last month retired as the Chief Statistician, said the steep decline in food inflation is likely to continue for some time but it will not hit the bottom. "The fall is expected but we should not expect that it is going to come down to 2-3 per cent. That is not going to happen," he said, however, adding the softening food inflation will help in streamlining the monetary policy.

Asked if the RBI is likely to go for a hike in the cash reserve ratio (CRR) from the current 6 per cent, Sen said,"not now. Until we see a huge inflow of foreign capital. If we see large external flows than we may (see CRR being hiked)."