Rises to 3-month high of 6.52 per cent in January
Mumbai- The retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 5.72 per cent in December and 6.01 per cent in January 2022. The previous high was 6.77 per cent in October.
While the prices of vegetable declined in January, most of the other items, including ‘fuel and light’ became dearer.
The rate of price rise in the food basket was 5.94 per cent in January, up from 4.19 per cent in the preceding month and 5.43 per cent in the year-ago month, as per data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO).
The inflation in rural areas was higher at 6.85 per cent as compared to 6 per cent in the urban centres.
Last week, the RBI—which has been mandated to ensure inflation remains below 6 per cent—had raised the key short-term rate (repo) by 25 basis points to 6.5 per cent with an aim to check price rise.
The Reserve Bank has projected the retail inflation at 6.5 per cent in 2022-23, with January-December quarter at 5.7 per cent.
Headline CPI inflation moderated by 105 basis points during November-December 2022 from its level of 6.77 per cent in October 2022.
This was due to a softening in food inflation on the back of a sharp deflation in vegetable prices, which more than offset the inflationary pressures from cereals, protein-based food items and spices, the RBI had said last week.
It also said the ongoing pass-through of input costs, especially in services, could keep core inflation at elevated levels.
Commenting on the data, Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist, ICRA, said the CPI inflation recorded a sharper-than expected spike to a three-month high in January 2023, led by an unexpectedly acute jump in food inflation.
“Following the surge in the January 2023 CPI inflation print, we have revised our forecast for the Q4 FY2023 average CPI inflation to 6.2 per cent from 6 per cent, which exceeds the projection released last week by the MPC, suggesting that another rate hike may be in the offing in April 2023,” she noted.
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
