Page 16 - Economic Growth

Pak allocates Rs 3.79 trn for national development plan to boost growth

Pakistan has approved an ambitious national development plan worth Rs 3.79 trillion (USD 13.6 billion) for the next fiscal year as authorities in the cash-strapped country try to use expansionary public investment to boost growth. The decision, taken at the high-level meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) on Monday, comes just two days before the unveiling of the budget 2024-25 on Wednesday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the meeting while chief ministers of all four provinces participated in the four-hour-long meeting, the Dawn newspaper reported. The meeting approved a more than 47 per cent increase in the federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) to Rs 1.4 trillion compared to the current year's Rs 950 billion. The Rs 1.4 trillion total federal PSDP would also include foreign financing of Rs 316 billion. The federal development programme goes up by 58 per cent or Rs 1.5 trillion if other Rs 100 billion public-private partnership (PPP) projects are ...

Japan's economy shrinks 1.8% in Q1, slightly less than previous forecast

The Japanese economy shrank at an annual rate of 1.8 per cent in the first quarter of this year, slightly better than the initial estimate at a 2.0 per cent contraction, according to revised government data Monday. The revision was due to private sector investments, at minus 0.4 per cent, up from the previous minus 0.5 per cent. Seasonally adjusted real gross domestic product, or GDP, a measure of the value of a nation's products and services, remained in negative territory, as exports and consumption declined from the previous quarter. Quarter-to-quarter, the economy slipped 0.5 per cent in the January-March period, according to the Cabinet Office, unchanged from last month's results. The annual rate measures what would have happened if the quarterly rate lasted a year. Wage growth has been slow, and prices on imports have risen amid a decline in the Japanese yen against the US dollar. The dollar is trading at nearly 157 yen lately, up from about 140 yen a year ago. The weak yen

New government unlikely to tweak trade policy

The Prime Minister is quite capable of managing such an outcome through negotiations and persuasion

Consumption inequality up in rural areas of 11 states in past decade: HCES

The rise in Gini coefficient was sharpest in Nagaland, followed by Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Meghalaya and Chhattisgarh

RBI monetary policy: FY25 growth forecast revised to 7.2%, up from 7%

Monetary Policy Committee keeps repo rate unchanged at 6.50% for an eighth straight policy meeting

May services growth at five-month low as domestic demand weakens

HSBC India Services PMI says firms optimistic and hiring up as input costs rise

BOJ must be vigilant to yen's impact on economy, says Dy Guv Himino

However, he said it was inappropriate for central banks to directly target exchange rates in setting monetary policy

Using GST as consumption proxy

Unlike private consumption data, GST can provide real-time insights into consumption patterns, economic activity, and state-wise variations

S&P Global Ratings to observe India's fiscal consolidation for next 2 years

It could give a ratings upgrade if govt is committed to fiscal glide path

Growth momentum will continue in third term of Modi govt: FM Sitharaman

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday termed 8.2 per cent GDP growth in 2023-24 as 'remarkable' and said the growth momentum will continue in the "third term of the Modi Government". Today's GDP data showcases robust economic growth with a growth rate of 8.2 per cent for FY 2023-24 and 7.8 per cent for the fourth or March quarter of FY 2023-24. "This remarkable GDP growth rate is the highest among the major economies of the world," Sitharaman said in a post on X. She said the manufacturing sector witnessed a significant growth of 9.9 per cent in 2023-24, highlighting the success of the Modi government's efforts for the sector. Many high-frequency indicators indicate that the Indian economy continues to remain resilient and buoyant despite global challenges, she added. "India's growth momentum will continue in the third term of PM Shri @narendramodi-led government," she said. The last phase of Lok Sabha elections will be held on Saturday while the results will be announced

China plans CO2 emission cuts in key industries by 1% of 2023 level

The plan said China would 'strictly' control coal consumption, 'reasonably' control petroleum consumption and promote use of biofuel and sustainable aviation fuel

Unlocking India's decadal growth

Sustained high growth will need hard reforms

Sri Lanka holds rates to control inflation, foster economic stability

Incoming data suggests that headline inflation is likely to be below the targeted level of 5 per cent in the upcoming months

A decade after

States need engines of growth

Family and factory economics

Transitioning away from industrial norms, the 21st-century economy must prioritise work within families

Bumper RBI dividend of Rs 2.11 trillion to give govt more fiscal room

Economists said that the government may not need much borrowing because of the highest-ever transfer of surplus to the government

Business activity expands in May as exports surge, PMI rises to 61.7

Robust demand was supported by new business in the services industry, which grew at the fastest pace since January, as well as rising manufacturing output and new orders

Tweaking the inflation targeting mandate

A key focus for the new govt should be to ensure wider consultation in setting inflation target

UN reports brighter global economic outlook, predicts 2.7% growth in 2024

The United Nations reported improved prospects for the world economy since its January forecast on Thursday, pointing to a better outlook in the United States and several large emerging economies including Brazil, India and Russia. According to its mid-2024 report, the world economy is now projected to grow by 2.7 per cent this year up from the 2.4 per cent forecast in its January report and by 2.8 per cent in 2025. A 2.7 per cent growth rate would equal growth in 2023, but still be lower than the 3 per cent growth rate before the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020. "Our prognosis is one of guarded optimism, but with important caveats, Shantanu Mukherjee, director of the UN's Economic Analysis and Policy Division, told a news conference launching the report. The report pointed to interest rates that are higher for longer periods, debt repayment challenges, continuing geopolitical tensions and climate risks especially for the world's poorest countries and small island ...

Measuring up to the standard

In today's world, standards wield not only technical but also strategic significance. India needs a change in mindset to elevate its industry standards to a global level