India Economics Update Acharya resignation another blow to RBI credibility The surprise resignation of RBI deputy governor Viral Acharya – one of the most hawkish members of the MPC – boosts the chances of further rate cuts in the near term. But it should once again raise... 25th June 2019 · 2 mins read
India Economics Update Cash will remain king for a long time yet Cashless transactions in India have risen sharply over the past few years, and recent developments should further support the expansion of digital payments. But while there is a clear willingness from... 19th June 2019 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Trade deficit will narrow again soon India’s monthly goods trade deficit widened a touch in May but given its very low exposure to an escalation in trade tensions between the US and China and the fact that oil prices are likely to stay... 17th June 2019 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Inflation Monitor (May) Headline CPI inflation is likely to have remained below the RBI’s 4.0% target in May, which will be used by the central bank as vindication of its change to a more dovish policy stance in yesterday’s... 7th June 2019 · 1 min read
India Economics Update RBI signals further loosening to come The RBI cut interest rates at a third consecutive meeting today. Arguably more important, it laid the groundwork for continued loosening in the second half of the year. If soft surveys are correct in... 6th June 2019 · 1 min read
India Economics Update New Finance Minister faces delicate balancing act Nirmala Sitharaman, who has just been selected to replace Arun Jaitley as Finance Minister, faces a delicate balancing act in her new role. On the one hand, she will want to display fiscal rectitude... 31st May 2019 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Drop in car sales exaggerating consumption weakness The recent sharp drop in vehicle sales might signal that household consumption has slumped. But a significant part of the drop in sales can be explained by industry-specific factors including higher... 22nd May 2019 · 1 min read
India Economics Update External deficit in check amid rising trade tensions India’s monthly goods trade deficit widened in April but, given its very low exposure to a ratcheting up of trade tensions between the US and China and the fact that oil prices are likely to fall, we... 16th May 2019 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Inflation Monitor (Apr.) Headline consumer price inflation is likely to have risen in April due to another pick up in food inflation. However, it will have remained below the RBI’s 4.0% target. That will be enough to prompt... 7th May 2019 · 1 min read
India Economics Update The economic impact of the monsoon The extent of the monsoon rains has a significant impact on the livelihoods of millions of families in India given the high level of employment in agriculture. But at the macro level, the monsoon... 30th April 2019 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Remittances to remain a key source of funding Remittances from abroad are an important source of external funding for India and were equivalent to almost 3% of GDP in 2018. That was more than FDI and portfolio inflows combined. Although there are... 23rd April 2019 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Wider trade deficit no cause for alarm India’s monthly goods trade deficit widened a touch in March but, with oil prices likely to fall, we think the deficit will remain contained over the coming months. In turn, that should help to keep... 16th April 2019 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Inflation Monitor (Mar.) Headline CPI inflation will have remained low in March, even if, as we suspect, it rose slightly as food inflation continues to pick up. The RBI will almost certainly follow up its cumulative 50bp of... 8th April 2019 · 1 min read
India Economics Update RBI delivers another pre-election gift The RBI has delivered another pre-election gift to the government by lowering rates at a second successive meeting. A low level of headline inflation provided justification for the move. But with core... 4th April 2019 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Current account deficit to remain in check India’s current account deficit widened at the end of 2018 but this shouldn’t reignite concerns over the external position. With oil prices likely to fall, the deficit will remain at a comfortable... 1st April 2019 · 1 min read
India Economics Update Smaller trade deficit is here to stay India’s monthly goods trade deficit narrowed to a 17-month low in February and, with oil prices set to remain low, we think the shortfall will remain small over the coming months. In turn, that should... 18th March 2019 · 1 min read
