RBI monetary policy: Economists see rate hike latest by August

The least the analysts, or the markets, expect is any discrepancy between the policy statement of the RBI and the subsequent minutes

A rate hike is certain, and the August policy could be the best time for it, but June too looks good, say analysts.

Nine out of the 10 economists polled by Business Standard expect the monetary policy committee (MPC) to favour rates to harden by August. Four of them expect the repo rate to become 6.25 per cent from 6 per cent now in June itself.

Indranil Sengupta, of Bank of America Merrill Lynch, guns for a rate cut in October. 

The retail inflation print in April was at 4.58 per cent against 4.28 per cent in March and 2.99