Hindi English Translation || Editorial || Recalcitrant jumbo: On inflation

Recalcitrant jumbo: On inflation

Anchoring inflation will be the base for long-term growth

The RBI’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has for an eighth consecutive meeting chosen to leave the benchmark repo rate unchanged at 6.50% on concern that ‘elevated food inflation could derail’ (पटरी से उतरना, विफल करना) its efforts to ensure durable price stability (स्थिरता). Governor Shaktikanta Das, who had just two months ago spoken of the ‘elephant’ of inflation having begun its journey back to the forest after going on a walkabout, flagged the risk that stubborn (जिद्दी) food price gains pose to the overall disinflation path as justification for the MPC’s stand. Food inflation as measured by the Consumer Food Price Index accelerated to a provisional 8.7% in April, from March’s 8.52%, and recent indicators such as Crisil’s food plate costs suggest that price gains spurred (प्रेरित करना, प्रोत्साहित करना) by a surge (उछाल, तेज़ी) in tomato, onion and potato prices may have quickened even further in May. The Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE) forecast on June 8, that headline retail inflation likely increased by 31 basis points last month to 5.14%, driven almost entirely by a 40 basis points acceleration in food price gains to 9.1%. The MPC, which voted by a 4-2 majority to “remain focussed on withdrawal of accommodation to ensure that inflation progressively aligns to the target” of 4%, flagged the challenges it faces in achieving this goal as increasing adverse climate events trigger supply shocks that make it very hard to foresee the food price trajectory. The CMIE cited last month’s heatwaves as the cause for the rise in the costs of fruits and vegetables.

The MPC is also only too aware that besides the threat from escalating food costs, which remain vulnerable (असुरक्षित, कमजोर) to the precariously (खतरनाक रूप से) low water storage levels at the country’s reservoirs as well as the ongoing exceptionally hot summer temperatures, rising prices of industrial metals could undermine the deflationary trend in core inflation. Add to the mix the uncertain outlook for crude oil prices given the tensions in West Asia and the output cuts being implemented by the OPEC+ producer nations, and it is a recipe for heightened uncertainty on the inflation path. The RBI’s latest round of surveys underline precisely (सटीक, ठीक-ठीक) why price stability is the central concern for policymakers. While households’ surveyed in May expect inflation to quicken for all major product groups, both over the three months and one year ahead periods, consumer confidence too moderated from the March round of the survey with an increased majority of almost 80% of respondents expecting price gains to accelerate in one year’s time. Governor Das is absolutely justified in maintaining an unwavering (अटल, अविचलित) focus on anchoring inflation expectations, given that it is, as he put it, “the required foundation for sustained” long-term growth.

Courtesy: The Hindu

Important Word List With Meaning

1.Recalcitrant (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - हठी, अनियंत्रित
English Meaning - Having an obstinately uncooperative attitude towards authority or discipline.

2.Derail (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - पटरी से उतरना, विफल करना
English Meaning - To cause (a train or other vehicle) to leave its tracks accidentally; to obstruct the progress of.

3.Stubborn (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - जिद्दी
English Meaning - Having or showing dogged determination not to change one's attitude or position on something.

4.Spur (Verb)

Hindi Meaning - प्रेरित करना, प्रोत्साहित करना
English Meaning - To encourage someone to take action; to incite or stimulate.

5.Surge (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - उछाल, तेज़ी
English Meaning - A sudden powerful forward or upward movement, especially by a crowd or by a natural force such as the tide.

6.Precariously (Adverb)

Hindi Meaning - खतरनाक रूप से
English Meaning - In a way that is not securely in position and is likely to fall or collapse; in a way that is uncertain or dependent on chance.

7.Precise (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - सटीक, ठीक-ठीक
English Meaning - Marked by exactness and accuracy of expression or detail

8.Unwaver (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - अटल, अविचलित
English Meaning - Not changing or becoming weaker; firm and determined

9.Stability (Noun)

Hindi Meaning - स्थिरता
English Meaning - The state of being stable; firmness in position

10.Vulnerable (Adjective)

Hindi Meaning - असुरक्षित, कमजोर
English Meaning - Susceptible to physical or emotional attack or harm.