July inflation eases to 3.15%; floods, Kharif sowing delay worry experts

Retail inflation eased marginally to 3.15 per cent in July on the back of softening fuel and light prices even as overall food prices moved up, showed government data on Tuesday (August 13), leaving room for the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to go for another round of rate cut in October.

Retail inflation was 3.18 per cent in June 2019, while it stood at 4.17 per cent in the year-ago period (July 2018). The overall food inflation, measured on Consumer Food Price Index (CFPI), moved up to 2.36 per cent during July from the revised 2.25 per cent print for June 2019, according to data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.

While lowering the key interest rate for the fourth time in a row earlier this month, the RBI had maintained its “accommodative” stance that meant that an increase is off the table. The central bank, which had reduced the rate unconventionally by 35 basis points this month, mainly factors in retail inflation in its bi-monthly monetary policy.

The CSO data showed that the rate of price rise in vegetables softened to 2.82 per cent during the latest month as against a rise of 4.66 per cent in June, while prices of pulses and products went up to 6.82 per cent from 5.68 per cent. In case of fruits, the price trend showed an upside movement with an inflation print of (-)0.86 per cent as against (-)4.18 per cent a month earlier.

Also read: RBI cuts interest rate by 35 bps, EMIs likely to come down

Prices of protein-rich meat and fish rose at nearly the same level at 9.05 per cent (from 9.01 per cent in June), however, inflation in eggs eased to 0.57 per cent (against 1.62 per cent).

In the fuel and light category, deflation was witnessed with a print at 0.36 per cent, as against a rise of 2.32 per cent a month ago. “The marginal dip in the CPI inflation in July 2019 was led by fuel and light, which recorded a disinflation in that month, even as food and core inflation inched up.”

“The incoming trends in food prices need to be cautiously watched, following the recent flooding in some states, rising vegetable prices and continued lag in kharif sowing. Moreover, an unfavourable base effect is likely to contribute to a hardening of food inflation in the ongoing quarter,” said Aditi Nayar, Principal Economist, Icra.

Retail inflation remains subdued with most of the components indicating not much variation compared to the earlier periods, said Joseph Thomas, Head of Research, Emkay Wealth Management.

Also read: Retail inflation rises for sixth straight month, up 3.18% in June

“But, we need to make allowance for factors like a cheaper Rupee, loss of crops due to heavy rains and the consequent effects on prices, while trying to judge the future inflation levels,” he added.

Nayar said that the core-CPI inflation may not ease meaningfully from the current levels, as demand for services will remain sticky even during an economic slowdown. “At present, we expect the CPI inflation to inch up in the next two months while remaining below the MPC’s target of 4 per cent during the second quarter of FY2020.

“The CPI inflation trajectory may allow for a 15 basis points rate cut in October 2019, after monsoon related uncertainties get resolved, especially if crude oil and other commodity prices remain relatively soft,” she added.

As per the latest sowing data maintained by the Union Agriculture Ministry, total acreage sown to all kharif crops so far has remained lower at 869.55 lakh hectare as against 918.70 lakh hectare in the year-ago period.

Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agrawal on Friday (August 9) said that the deficit in overall sowing area has improved compared to the previous week and the gap has come down. Currently, the retail inflation is well below the RBI’s comfort level. The government has asked the central bank to keep inflation in the range of 4 per cent.

Sensex, Nifty fall, but Reliance soars by 10%

Equity benchmark Sensex on Tuesday plunged nearly 624 points, the steepest single-day fall in over a month, dragged by losses across the board as the long-lasting trade war, Hong Kong protests and Argentine currency crash further spooked investors.

The National Stock Exchange gauge Nifty too tumbled nearly 184 points to settle below the key 11,000 level. Bucking the overall downtrend, shares of Reliance Industries rallied nearly 10 per cent, capping the Sensex loss to a large extent.