Economic growth questions: Some high-frequency indicators remain puzzling

Growth in GDP in the first quarter this financial year declined to a five-quarter low of 6.7 per cent

The latest Monthly Bulletin of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has noted high-frequency indicators suggest continued growth in demand, but at a slow momentum compared to the preceding quarters. While the central bank has retained its annual growth projection for the ongoing year at 7.2 per cent, prospects are being debated. As the Bulletin also noted, corporate results in the first quarter of 2024-25 showed a deceleration in real gross value added and corporations seem to be protecting margin with lower spending. Some of the large fast-moving consumer goods companies in recent days have expressed concern over slowing urban