Join +750K new investors every month who copy stock picks from billionaire's portfoliosSign Up Free

India Facing Stagflation

Published 05/16/2012, 06:10 AM
Updated 07/09/2023, 06:31 AM
CSGN
-
BOI
-

India (as discussed back in December) is now struggling with one of the most difficult environments an economy could face - stagflation. Here are the latest four economic trends:

1. India's export growth is declining.
India India Merchandise Exports Including Re exports YoY
2. Industrial production is down sharply.
Industrial production India
3. Yet wholesale inflation is staying stubbornly high, driven by food inflation. Food inflation can be particularly devastating for developing economies where food costs are such a high proportion of household expenses.
India Wholesale Price Index All Commodities
4. But the most worrying sign is the rupee weakness. INR hit new lows against the dollar - below the levels reached in December (the chart below shows how many rupees can be bought with one dollar).
INR
Rising import costs (particularly food inflation) are nearly impossible to control when the currency weakens this much.

Credit Suisse: With India looking rather stagflationary at present, the Reserve Bank of India faces somewhat of a dilemma. Does it ease policy further on the basis that economic growth is very weak and core inflation soft or keep rates unchanged as it worries about headline inflationary pressures?

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will likely cut rates again, simply because the core inflation remains relatively tame (core inflation as measured by RBI actually declined 0.1% due to a slowdown in manufacturing demand). But the outlook for growth is far from certain. With currency weakening, inflation could become difficult to control while growth is showing signs of slowing. These are the signs of stagflation.

Latest comments

Loading next article…
Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.