-The Telegraph Overall current account deficit in July rises to $21.04 billion (merchandise and services), commerce ministry reports on Friday Mumbai: Reserve Bank of India deputy governor Michael Patra has tried to soothe concerns about the anticipated surge in India’s current account deficit, suggesting that the country will not be roiled by a crisis if the CAD climbed to anywhere between 2.5 and 3 per cent of GDP. “Our experience has been that...

Is India going to face inflation in cereal prices during the rest of the current financial year? Experts differ on this. An analysis by Nomura Global Economics and CEIC finds that a below normal monsoon does not always translate into high retail inflation in food. Similarly, an above normal southwest monsoon does not always bring down the rate of food inflation. However, some agricultural experts (please click here, here and...

-The Telegraph Food prices, which account for nearly half of the consumer price index basket, softened last month The finance ministry and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) are in discussions on the inflation trajectory amid the easing of global commodity and crude oil prices. A Reuters poll of economists forecast retail inflation at a five-month low in July at 6.78 per cent. But it is still above the RBI’s upper threshold...

-Down to Earth blog Palm oil is water-intensive and requires large patches of land India is the second-largest consumer of edible oil globally and its largest Importer. While the government has taken several initiatives over the years to increase the domestic production of edible oils, its shortage and high price are often in the news. Palm oil production grew between 2015-2016 and 2020-2021 at a compound annual growth rate of 6.1 per cent,...

-The Telegraph Officials say Centre is considering several other measures such as doing away with stock holding limit of foodgrain The government plans to scrap the Import duty on wheat to encourage inward shipment and meet its growing demand during the festive season. Officials said the Centre was considering several other measures such as doing away with the stock holding limit of the foodgrain. Analysts said the move might not fetch the desired results...