INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
lower food and fuel prices as well as expectation of a normal rainy season.The RBI has reduced the key policy rate by 25 basis points to 6
per cent.The inflation path during 2019-20 is likely to be shaped by several factors
First, low food inflation during January-February will have a bearing on the near-term inflation outlook
Second, the fall in the fuel group inflation witnessed at the time of the February policy has become accentuated, RBI said in its first
bi-monthly monetary policy for 2019-20."Taking into consideration these factors and assuming a normal monsoon in 2019, the path of CPI
inflation is revised downwards to 2.4 per cent in Q4:2018-19, 2.9-3.0 per cent in H1:2019-20 and 3.5-3.8 per cent in H2:2019-20, with risks
broadly balanced," the RBI said.In its previous policy outcome in February, the RBI had projected retail inflation between 3.2-3.4 per cent
for the first half of 2019-20.Among others, the apex bank said Consumer Price Index-based inflation, excluding food and fuel, in February
was lower than expected, which has imparted some downward bias to headline inflation.Meanwhile, international crude oil prices have
increased by around 10 per cent since the last policy announcement.Get the latest election news, live updates and election schedule for Lok
Sabha Elections 2019 on TheIndianSubcontinent.com/elections
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