-Hindustan Times Retail inflation in November dipped below 6% for the first time in 11 months, beating analyst estimates, on the back of a sharp deceleration in food prices, especially of vegetables and edible oils, although a spike in cereal prices is a matter of concern. New Delhi: Retail inflation in November dipped below 6% for the first time in 11 months, beating analyst estimates, on the back of a sharp deceleration...

-Hindustan Times Farm policymaking slowed down after the repeal of three laws in 2021. But the climate crisis, geopolitical instability and inflation have exacerbated the urgency for reforms In November 2021, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi repealed three contentious farm laws in a dramatic turnaround. The entire episode — from the passage of the laws, the protests that followed and the turnaround — had stalled national agriculture policymaking. Yet, as this column...

-Business Standard Currency depreciation in developing countries could deepen food and energy inflation: Commodity Markets Outlook report Global energy prices will ease in the next couple of years but "remain considerably" higher than the historic average, said a report on Wednesday. In many economies, prices in domestic-currency terms remain elevated because of depreciation and this could deepen food and energy crises. "As the global growth slowdown intensifies, commodity prices are expected to ease in...

-Down to Earth The annual rise of material price came after a pause of 2 years because of the pandemic The Centre has increased allocations for materials cost for mid-day meals at schools by 9.6 per cent, after two unprecedented years of the COVID-19 pandemic. The measure, however, is insufficient to protect against rising inflation, stakeholders and experts complained. In absolute figures, the hike translates to a measly 48 paise for a primary...

The newly released World Bank report has estimated that the number of extremely poor people globally went up by nearly 71 million in the year 2020 as compared to 2019 — a 11 percent increase. Between 2019 and 2020, the number of poor swelled by around 56 million in India. It means that about 79 percent of the total people globally who slipped into poverty during the first year of...