Inflation & Prices
Slowest India Inflation in 18 Months Boosts Rate Hold Calls
- Consumer prices rose 4.70% in April versus 4.76% estimate
- Print within target band will give RBI room to support growth
Easing inflation will bring relief to policy makers when the economy is facing headwinds from geopolitical tensions and slowing global demand.
Photographer: Dhiraj Singh/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Consumer prices in India continued to slide in April, giving the central bank room to keep rates on hold after an aggressive tightening campaign dampened demand and muddled the wider outlook for the economy.
Inflation rose 4.70% last month from a year earlier, the slowest pace since October 2021, according to data released by the Statistics Ministry on Friday. The median estimate in a Bloomberg survey of economists was for a 4.76% gain. A third straight month of cooling prices brings the marker closer to the mid-point of the Reserve Bank of India’s 2%-6% target.