CPI target band could tighten in 5-10 years: Raghuram Rajan

Says will seek to bring inflation to the mid-point of the band of 4+/-2%

Reserve Bank Governor Raghuram Rajan has said the target band for retail inflation could tighten much further in the future as the central bank becomes more comfortable with it.

"Going forward, we will seek to bring inflation to the mid-point of the band of 4+/-2% provided for in the monetary policy framework agreement, i.e., to 4% by the end of a two-year period starting FY17," Rajan had told analysts on Wednesday after he surprised the markets with a 25 bps policy rate cut citing supporting data prints.

Answering a question from an analyst, Rajan had explained further, "Given that this is a process (the recently signed monetary policy framework agreement between the Reserve Bank and the government) that is just starting, we have somewhat wide bands around it.

"My belief is, as we get more comfortable, and I am talking in the five-to-ten year scenario, these bands could tighten. But for now, we think these are appropriate (at 4% by FY17)," Rajan had said.

Explaining the view further, he said, "The way we think about this 4% mid-point is that if we really look at the industrial countries they are seeking, for the most part, a 2% nominal interest rates and if we say on top of that we have a 2% productivity advantages as we catch up in growth then a 4% inflation rate on our side will tend to keep our nominal exchange rate at pretty much a level vis-a-vis industrial countries.

"So, that is really the thinking behind why 4%. It is also that previous committees have gone into this in great detail and they have suggested that 4% may be comfortable for us to try and reach. But, also, given that this is a process that is starting, we have somewhat wide bands around it," Rajan had said.