High levels of inflation slows down growth rate of deposits with banks

06 Apr 2012 Evaluate

The high level of inflation has impacted people’s capacity to save which has led to a slower growth in deposits with banks. Also people have preferred to invest in mutual funds, gold and property rather than savings accounts. Consequently, the liquidity position remains tightened.

As per data released by the RBI, deposits grew by 13.4% during the one-year period ending March 23, 2012. This is much lesser than the projected growth of 17% estimated by the RBI in its annual monetary policy statement for 2011-12.

According to the latest data released by the RBI, deposits with commercial banks grew to Rs 60.72 lakh crore as on March 23, 2012 from Rs 53.55 lakh crore on March 25, 2011. The data further showed that bank loans also increased by over 17% to Rs 47.54 lakh crore as on March 23, against Rs 40.60 lakh crore on March 25 last year. With a slowdown in the economy combined with higher foreign direct investments, options like mutual funds, gold and property were seen as more lucrative options rather than savings deposits. 

As far as any improvement of deposit growth in banks in future is concerned, bank officials are of the view that if inflation is controlled- especially food prices, liquidity will ease automatically. RBI too had expected the inflation to cool down to 7% levels. 

The data also revealed that credit towards food was higher at Rs 81,303.89 crore as on March 23, 2012 against Rs 64,282.84 crore on March 25 last year. RBI is scheduled to come out with annual monetary policy for the current fiscal on April 17. 

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