Factory output slips back into negative, retail inflation rising
Context: After growing in December, India’s industrial production slipped into negative territory again in January, posting a contraction of 1.6 per cent due to weak manufacturing, capital goods, and mining output, data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO).
Details:
- Retail inflation data released separately showed the headline number rising to a three-month high of 5.03 per cent in February from a 16-month low of 4.06 per cent in January, mainly due to a surge in year-on-year food inflation, which increased to 3.87 percent.
- The sharp pickup in inflation is an indication that the central bank may need to have another look at its accommodative stance going forward.
- A bumper kharif crop and rising prospects of a good rabi harvest were expected to be the benign factors, while price pressures were seen from pulses, edible oils, spices, and non-alcoholic beverages.
- The Index of Industrial Production (IIP) had recorded a growth of 1.0 per cent in December, which has now been revised to growth of 1.6 per cent. Factory output had grown by 2.2 per cent in January last year.