Volatile growth, cooling inflation: Economy gave mixed signals in 2018

Economists say growth will come down in the next and the following quarters

India's economy gave mixed signals in 2018 with growth remaining volatile and inflation cooling.
 

However, food inflation reflected rural distress. On twin deficits, the fiscal deficit presented a worrying picture, and the current account deficit touched around 3 per cent of gross domestic product by the third quarter of the year.
 

The economy began the year with a 7.7 per cent GDP growth rate in the January-March quarter. It further rose to a two-year high of 8.2 per cent in the next quarter. When the low-base effect waned, the economy gave the real picture by expanding at just 7.1 per