Page 13 - Inflation

Has there been a slowdown in money supply after inflation targeting?

Apprehensions have been expressed in public domain of a slowdown in money supply on the back of an inadequate reserve money expansion and this could play a role in growth slowdown

Retail inflation for industrial workers inches up at 2.44% in August

Retail inflation for industrial workers inched up marginally to 2.44 per cent in August against 2.15 per cent in July this year. The All-India CPI-IW (Consumer Price Index-Industrial Workers) for August 2024 decreased by 0.1 points and stood at 142.6 points, a labour ministry statement said. According to the statement, the CPI-IW was 142.7 in July this year. "Year-on-year inflation for the month of August 2024 stood at 2.44 per cent as compared to 6.91 per cent in August 2023," it said. Labour Bureau, an attached office of the Ministry of Labour & Employment, has been compiling the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers every month on the basis of retail prices collected from 317 markets spread over 88 industrially important centres in the country.

Inflation in Europe falls below 2%, paves way for faster interest rate cuts

Inflation in the 20 countries that use the euro fell to 1.8 per cent in September, below the European Central Bank's target of 2 per cent for the first time in more than three years as falling energy prices give consumers relief from a burst of inflation that at one point reached into double digits. Tuesday's official figure coupled with an anemic growth outlook could pave the way for faster interest rate cuts from the ECB, which has already trimmed rates twice. Inflation fell from 2.2 per cent in August, according to European Union statistics agency Eurostat. The last time inflation hit the ECB's 2 per cent goal was in June, 2021 when it was 1.9 per cent. Economists have started to consider the possibility of a rate cut at the bank's October 17 meeting. A few weeks ago, the expectations were that the central bank would wait until December before lowering borrowing costs again for consumers and businesses. The bank must juggle the need to make sure inflation is under control, which

Monetary policy needs recalibration due to domestic reasons, not the Fed

Early reports suggest softer consumer demand at the beginning of the festive season, with discounts and incentives offered by automakers and online platforms to boost sales and clear inventory

Fed drives global push to cut rates despite uncertainties over 2025

Whatever happens, a sustained period of central bank activism, in contrast to the recent hiatus of higher-for-longer rates, is likely to take hold

Time for private investment is now; delays risk economic competitiveness

Despite softening inflation, the degrees of freedom for the central bank to reduce interest rates might decrease, due to higher government borrowing to keep pump-priming the economy

WPI inflation drops to 4-month low of 1.31% in Aug on lower prices

Food price comes in at 3.11%, compared to 3.45% in July, according to government data

Rate cut hinges on inflation trajectory: RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das

Rupee strength driven by strong fundamentals, not because of artificial intervention

Have distance to cover on inflation, can't look other way: RBI Governor

Central bank in no rush to cut rates as projections say inflation is moderating, says Shaktikanta Das

Pakistan central bank's MPC cuts key policy rates by 200 bps to 17.5%

Pakistan's Central bank on Thursday cut its key policy rate by 200 basis points to 17.5 per cent from 19.5 per cent bowing to demands for a major rate cut. The State Bank in a statement said that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) decided to reduce the policy rate by 200 basis points (bps) to 17.5 per cent in its meeting on Thursday. Various factors impacting the inflation outlook were taken into consideration while reaching this decision, it said. Inflation in August was at 9.6 per cent, resulting in a positive real interest rate of 10 per cent. Financial experts generally anticipated a reduction of 150 bps with some forecasting a cut of up to 200 bps. However, industry leaders advocated for a deep 500 bps cut to spur economic growth. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) assessed the real interest rate to still be adequately positive to bring inflation down to the medium-term target of 5 to 7 per cent and help ensure macroeconomic stability, the statement read. The MPC said glob

Inflation likely held below RBI's target at 3.5% again in Aug, finds survey

Although food prices, which make up nearly half the inflation basket, have eased significantly in the last two months, erratic monsoon rains across India could harm crop yields

Inflation debate must consider downsides of alternative frameworks

To be fair, the RBI or the MPC on its own cannot change the target or stop taking into account one part of the consumer basket without appropriate amendment to the RBI Act

ECB at risk of becoming too restrictive, cuts interest rates: Cipollone

"The data so far confirms our direction of travel and I hope that they will allow us to continue to be less restrictive," Cipollone told Le Monde in an interview

Lenders' deposit shortage could put speed limit on credit-fueled investment

The govt is making the deposit crunch worse by taxing savers aggressively, but keeping the proceeds away from the financial system. Bankers are compounding the problem by not paying enough to savers

Oil goes higher as halted Libyan exports levels expected Opec+ supply boost

News of increased production helped push oil prices lower last week but the scale of the sell-off was overdone, said Phil Flynn, an analyst at Price Futures Group

Pakistan inflation ceases further in Aug providing room for more rate cuts

Pakistan's central bank has slashed rates by a cumulative 250 basis points in the last two meetings and is scheduled to hold the next review on Sept 12

Donald Trump vows to tackle inflation, corruption at Pennsylvania rally

Trump said that he will work towards making the country a dominant energy producer in the world and claimed the country will experience a reduction in energy costs

Inflation targeting: Why modifying the approach may be counterproductive

The current inflation-targeting regime should be suitably updated, but it should remain the framework for India's monetary policy for the foreseeable future

Bank of Canada may cut interest rates deeper, faster over next year

Policymakers led by Governor Tiff Macklem are expected to lower the benchmark overnight rate to 4.25 per cent at their Sept. 4 meeting

Asia shares edge up ahead of inflation data today, oil price gains

Brent rose 51 cents to $79.53 a barrel, while U.S. crude added 50 cents to $75.33 per barrel