Near zero inflation in December raises rate cut demands to spur economic growth

New Delhi, Jan 14: Declining prices of global crude oil kept the inflation rate at near zero level in Dec, raising the clamour for interest rate cut by RBI to boost domestic manufacturing and spur economic growth.

(WPI) based inflation moved up marginally in Dec to 0.11 per cent from zero level in Nov, reversing the six month declining trend. The slight increase in inflation rate was due to spurt in 'food items' basket. Food inflation in Dec moved to 5-month high of 5.2 per cent, as per the government data released today.

While inflation in pulses, vegetables and fruits was higher in Dec, over the previous month, it eased in wheat, milk and other protein rich items like egg, meat and fish.

"To give a boost to the capex cycle, there is an urgent need for lowering of lending rates. Since the inflation is largely under control, we urge the RBI to ease the monetary policy stance," industry body Ficci's President Jyotsna Suri said.

The data showed inflation in fuel and power segment contracted sharply by 7.82 per cent, as against 4.91 per cent in Nov. The Reserve Bank, which has kept key interest (repo) rate unchanged at 8 per cent, is scheduled to announce its next monetary policy on February 3.

Global oil prices have slumped to near 6-year low of around $46 a barrel helping importing countries like India to cut back on their dollar payments as well as ease retail prices, which in turn calm inflation.

The retail inflation measured on consumer price index (CPI) for Dec too had inched up to 5 per cent while it was 4.38 per cent in Nov. The data further revealed that the inflation in the primary articles segment shot up to 2.17 per cent in Dec, as against a decline of 0.98 per cent in Nov.

PTI