Main Facts India’s headline retail inflation surged significantly to 5.54% in September, accelerating from 4.83% in August. Released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) on Monday, the latest data highlights a concerning upward trajectory in consumer prices. This surge follows closely on the heels of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) aggressive […]
India’s Retail Inflation Surges to 5.54% in September: A Deep Dive into the Economic Landscape
By IANS Updated: October 12, 2026, 05:53 PM IST India’s macroeconomic landscape faced a significant reality check in September 2026, as the National Statistics Office (NSO) reported a sharp uptick in retail inflation. The Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation climbed to 5.54 percent, a notable acceleration from the 4.83 percent recorded in August. This surge […]
RBI Turns Hawkish: State Bank of India Economist Calls for Aggressive ‘Jumbo’ Rate Hikes as Inflation Trajectory Steepens
New Delhi: In the wake of the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) recent pivot toward monetary policy tightening, leading economists are sharply divided over the path ahead. Following the central bank’s decision to hike the benchmark repo rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 5.50%—its first such move in over three and a half years—debate […]
Cracks in the Hinterland: RBI Survey Reveals Deepening Rural Consumer Pessimism Amid Persisting Inflation Pressures
MUMBAI — Beneath the veneer of resilient consumption figures, a profound economic anxiety is quietly taking root across India’s rural and semi-urban landscapes. According to the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) Rural Consumer Confidence Survey (RCCS) for September 2026, rural households are growing increasingly pessimistic about the macroeconomy, job opportunities, and their personal income growth. […]
Monsoon Volatility and Food Inflation: Assessing India’s Agricultural Resilience in 2026
By IANS Published: July 23, 2026 | Updated: July 23, 2026 As India enters the critical mid-point of the 2026 southwest monsoon season, the agricultural landscape presents a study in contrasts. While large swathes of the country have received bountiful rainfall, significant pockets—particularly in the key grain-producing belts—are grappling with erratic and uneven precipitation patterns. […]
India inflation likely rose to 4% in May as food, fuel costs climb
Representative image. India’s inflation likely rose to the Reserve Bank of India‘s medium-term target of 4% in May, driven by a pickup in vegetable prices and higher fuel costs following the U.S. and Israel war against Iran, a Reuters poll of economists showed. Inflation has remained below the RBI’s 4% target for 15 consecutive months. […]