-The Hindu Business Line A surge in the prices of meat, fish and pulses pushed the rate of retail inflation a tad higher to nearly 3.2 per cent in June. Meanwhile, industrial production still seems to be in the slow lane, with 3 per cent growth in May. Rate cut possibility These two indicators will play a key role in the monetary policy review to be undertaken by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)...

-The Telegraph Inflation and a poor monsoon may add to our woes in an economy already plagued with high unemployment and low demand The ministry of commerce has released the latest data on wholesale price index inflation. The data on food inflation have attracted attention as it soared to a 33-month high in April 2019. However, this rate of inflation is still moderate at 7.4 per cent. The inflation has been due...

Recent studies and media reports have confirmed that Indian farmers are facing non-remunerative and sometimes falling prices. A past news alert by the Inclusive Media for Change team indicated deflation in wholesale prices of 8 kharif crops (viz. maize, arhar, moong, urad, groundnut, soybean, sunflower seed and Niger seed) on average between 2016-17 and 2018-19. Based on data analysis, that news alert also demonstrated how the rural areas have witnessed...

-The Hindu Business Line Despite a lively debate in recent weeks on whether food prices have now moved to being structurally low, analysts believe that this is only a transient phenomenon and food prices, on a sequential basis, have already begun to rise. Retail inflation may be at an 18-month low but prices, especially of food items, are likely to see a pick-up over the next few months with average inflation expected...

-The Hindu Business Line In the wake of the government announcing direct income support of ?6,000 per year for small and marginal farmers in the interim Budget on February 1, the Reserve Bank of India, on Thursday, raised the limit for collateral-free agriculture loans to Rs.1.6 lakh from Rs.1 lakh. The central bank said the increased limit will enhance coverage of small and marginal farmers in the formal credit system. The circular...