Private sector employees have an annual pastime, speculate on how much interest their provident fund balances will earn. This year, they know it at the beginning of the year itself. They have been given some good news, ahead of the budget. The Central Board of Trustees (CBT) has recommended to the government, to continue with last year’s interest rate. They will get an interest rate of 8.5% on their provident fund balances.
Economy+Policy
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Steep gradient ahead: required, a steady hand
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The railway minister has made up her mind to lean on the centre in the next few years to support her growth plans. In 2009-10, the budgetary support has been increased by Rs 5,000 crore over the interim budget figure. But its reliance on the government for funds is expected to increase, putting pressure on the government’s already strained resource position.
Filed under: Economy+Policy, News Analysis, Economy Outlook, Mamata Banerjee, Railway Budget, Railways
Rail Budget: finances go off track
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Today, the Railway Budget 2009-10 was presented by the railway minister Mamata Banerjee. It was her maiden budget and she left no stone unturned to announce populist schemes, the hallmark of every rail minister. When the times were mostly good, as in the previous government’s tenure, it didn’t pinch but in a slowing economy, it is undoing the strong position the railways made for itself in the past five years.
Filed under: Economy+Policy, Top News, Economy Number Speak, Mamata Banerjee, Railway Budget, Railways
Fuel inflation: Petrol and diesel prices hiked
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It is not the first time that the government has hiked petrol and diesel prices in the run-up to the budget. On July 1, the government announced a Rs 4/litre increase in petrol prices and Rs 2/litre for diesel. That amounts to a price hike of 10% and 7% respectively.
Filed under: Economy+Policy, Top News, Freight, Inflation, WPI
Revised monsoon forecast casts a shadow
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The South-West monsoon rainfall not only brings relief to people from the summer heat, but is eagerly awaited by farmers. Their crop output depends on it, in a country where irrigation infrastructure is still pitiful, well into the 21st century. For them, the revised monsoon forecast is a dampener. The weather bureau (www.imd.gov.in) has revised its South-West monsoon forecast.
Filed under: Agriculture, Economy+Policy, Top News, Forecast, Industries Number Speak, Monsoon
A new government: business as usual?
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Business as a rule loves stability. They could not have asked for a better verdict from the 2009 elections. The UPA government has come back to power, much stronger with about 260 seats in a 543-seat parliament. In the previous election, it was much dependent on a number of smaller allies, hampering effective functioning especially on the economic front.
A tough economic situation…
Filed under: Economy+Policy, News Analysis, Elections, Government, India
Inflation at 0.26% in the April 11 week, up marginally
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Though fuel prices have come down sharply, lowering overall inflation, basic, food and manufactured product prices either continue to rise or remain stagnant. In the week ended April 11, inflation was at 0.26%, almost close to zero but higher than the previous week’s level of 0.18%.
Primary article prices are up by 4.3% over the same week, a year ago with food prices being up by 7%. Mineral and ore prices have fallen sharply. Manufactured product prices have not fallen, with producers holding on to prices to compensate for falling volumes, it seems.
Filed under: Economy+Policy, Quick News, Inflation, WPI
Monsoon in 2009-10 to be 96% of normal, off last year’s level
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This may qualify as a near normal monsoon as per the meteorological department’s guidelines, but is lower compared to last year’s forecast of 99%. The Met has been using a new model since 2007, and last year the actual rainfall fell just 1% short of the forecast. Lesser rainfall usually raises a question mark on agricultural output. The economic impact of a poor crop has lessened as industry and services account for a larger share of GDP. But in a slowdown, a good agricultural output provides a buffer. Continue Reading →
Filed under: Agriculture, Economy+Policy, Top News, Forecast, Monsoon
Inflation nears zero: WPI at 0.18%
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In recent months, industrial output and inflation have both falling. That has led to fears of deflationary conditions prevailing in the economy, an undesirable phenomenon. Some expect the RBI to lower interest rates again to revive demand. But the RBI itself wants the impact of the measures it has taken to percolate fully, before it takes more measures.
Filed under: Economy+Policy, Top News, CPI, deflation, industrial growth, Inflation, RBI, WPI
RBI’s credit policy stands still
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The Reserve Bank of India announced its third quarter review of the monetary policy today, disappointing the rate-cut hopefuls by leaving all key benchmarks unchanged. In the past few months, the central bank has provided enough leeway, by reducing interest rates and adding to cash in the banking system, for banks to start lending again.