Wholesale Food Inflation

"Green shoots" are visible on the consumption front as food inflation has started receding, newly appointed FICCI President Harsha V Agarwal said. Food inflation is expected to come down to its normal level in the next two quarters, Agarwal said, adding that he is hopeful for a revival in consumption growth, aided by a good crop and increased spending by the government on the big-ticket infra projects and rural schemes in the December quarter. Government spending in the right areas -- like increase in capex and ramping up infrastructure, rather than focusing on revenue expenditure -- is helping the overall economy, he said. "We are seeing some green shoots where we believe food inflation is coming down... it has to come back to normal. It might take maybe one quarter or so. But we are seeing situations where it is improving, and hence we are hopeful that consumption should increase," Agarwal told PTI. Government spending in the September quarter was low due to the general elections

A fall in inflation will be welcomed by households in the world's most populous country, where food takes up a large chunk of budgets

The Reserve Bank on Friday raised the inflation projection for current fiscal year to 4.8 per cent from 4.5 per cent with Governor Shaktikanta Das saying lingering food price pressures are likely to keep headline inflation elevated in the December quarter. Consumer price index (CPI)-based inflation increased sharply in September and October 2024 led by an unanticipated increase in food prices. Core inflation, though at subdued levels, also registered a pick-up in October. Fuel group remained in deflation for the 14th consecutive month in October. "In the near term, despite some softening, lingering food price pressures are likely to keep headline inflation elevated in Q3," Das said while unveiling the December 2024 monetary policy. RBI said CPI inflation for 2024-25 is projected at 4.8 per cent, with Q3 at 5.7 per cent; and Q4 at 4.5 per cent. CPI or retail inflation for Q1:2025-26 is projected at 4.6 per cent, and Q2 at 4 per cent. In the October policy, the central bank had ...

Initial data from NielsenIQ for October shows overall FMCG growth at 4-5 per cent, with volume growth at around 3 per cent and price growth at just 1-2 per cent

The govt is exploring a reduction in food's weight in the Consumer Price Index to reflect changing consumption patterns and manage inflation, as food prices remain volatile and seasonally driven

Indian households, Desai wrote, are still under-invested in equities. At cost, only 3 per cent of the household balance sheet is in equities, excluding equity holdings of founders.

Core inflation, which excludes volatile items such as food and energy and is seen as a better gauge of domestic demand, was forecast to be 3.60 per cent in October, according to the median estimate

Amid shifting retail dynamics driven by India's quick commerce boom, premium products are moving off shelves faster across all channels

Amid suggestions for excluding food inflation while setting benchmark interest rates, former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan has said that he is against excluding food prices from headline inflation, as it would erode the 'great faith' of people in the central bank, which has been mandated by the government to keep inflation in check. Rajan further said it is best that inflation target a basket which is what the consumer consumes because that affects the consumers perception of inflation and ultimately inflationary expectations. "When I came into office, we were still targeting PPI (producer price index). Now that has no bearing to what the average consumer faces. "So, when the RBI says inflation is low, look at PPI, but if the consumer is facing something very different, then they do not really believe that inflation is down," he told PTI. Rajan was responding to a question on suggestions made in the Economic Survey 2023-24 for excluding food inflation while setting benchmark interest

The restaurant industry is expected to turn around on the back of India's overall strong fundamentals after facing temporary headwinds such as high food inflation and people dining out less that hurt the sector in the first quarter, according to Speciality Restaurants Ltd CMD Anjanmoy Chatterjee. The company, which has a slew of brands such as Mainland China, Asia Kitchen by Mainland China, Episode One, Haka, and Sweet Bengal, among others and shut 29 outlets during the pandemic, is now focussing on profitable growth while expanding its footprint. "It should be clear that India not eating out or inflation not settling down is something which I don't believe in. India is better than many more countries...," Chatterjee told PTI. He was responding to a query on how long factors such as high food inflation and people dining out less after the diminishing of 'revenge eating' post pandemic that affected the restaurant industry, will continue to impact the sector. "It is a short-term ...

Economic Survey had suggested exploring whether inflation targeting framework of the central bank should exclude food

While the interests of famers need to be protected, it would further complicate monetary and macroeconomic management

Most respondents expect rate cuts from Dec; change in stance unlikely

The continuous heavy rainfall in key tomato-producing states like Maharashtra and Karnataka has disrupted transportation, leading to a shortage in supply and subsequent price hikes

The July 5-9 Reuters poll of 54 economists forecast consumer price inflation rose to 4.80% last month on a year earlier, up from 4.75% in May. Food accounts for around half the overall CPI basket

The overall hike in vegetarian thali prices was attributed to a 30 per cent increase in prices of tomato, 59 per cent in potato and 46 per cent in onion

In a move to check wheat price rise and hoarding, the Centre on Monday imposed stock holding limits on traders, wholesalers, retailers and processors with immediate effect. The restrictions will remain in force until March 31, 2025, across all states and Union Territories. Under the new rules, retail outlets and individual stores of big chain retailers are allowed to stock up to 10 tonnes of wheat, an official statement said. Traders, wholesalers, and large depots of big chain retailers face a cap of 3,000 tonnes each. For processors, the limit is set at 70 per cent of their monthly installed capacity (MIC) multiplied by the remaining months of the 2024-25 fiscal. The government has mandated all entities to declare their stock position and regularly update it on the Department of Food and Public Distribution's portal (https://evegoils.nic.in/wsp/login). Those holding stocks exceeding the prescribed limits have been given a 30-day window to comply with the new norms. The decision

Federal Reserve officials said on Wednesday that inflation has fallen further toward their target level in recent months but signalled that they expect to cut their benchmark interest rate just once this year. The policymakers' forecast for one rate cut was down from a previous forecast of three, likely because inflation, despite having cooled in the past two months, remains persistently elevated. In a statement issued after its two-day meeting, the Fed said the economy is growing at a solid pace, while hiring has remained strong. The officials also noted that in recent months there has been modest further progress toward its 2 per cent inflation target. That is a more positive assessment than after the Fed's previous meeting May 1, when the officials said there had been a lack of further progress" on inflation. The policymakers, as expected, kept their key rate unchanged at roughly 5.3 per cent. The benchmark rate has remained at that level since July of last year, after the Fed .

Ensuring food safety is a public health priority and an essential step towards achieving food security

A vegetarian thali has roti, onion, tomato, potato, rice, dal, curd, and salad. A non-vegetarian thali has the same foods but chicken (broiler) replaces dal