RBI guv sees inflation risks, limited room to ease policy
“There are upside risks for inflation. In particular, food prices are going up as a result of cyclical factors... Then there is pressure on inflation from global commodity prices,” Subbarao told reporters in Moscow.
The RBI cut its key policy rate for the first time in nine months in January, but struck a cautious note on further easing as it waits to see how the government’s Budget aims to bring a bloated fiscal deficit under control.
“At this moment there is room for monetary easing, but that room is limited and we have to make a careful judgment on how to use that limited room,” Subbarao said on the fringes of a meeting of Group of 20 finance ministers and central bankers.
India’s high fiscal and current account deficits, in addition to inflation risks, are deterrents for further monetary easing, which is seen necessary to support sagging GDP growth.
The current account deficit widened to a record high of 5.4% of GDP in the September quarter, and Subbarao recently said it is likely to be at an all-time high in the fiscal year that ends
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