Inflation can be brought down to 4-4.5% in medium term: D Subbarao

05 Aug 2011 Evaluate

 The Reserve bank of India’s (RBI) Governor D Subbarao admitted that to control inflation it had sacrificed economic growth in the short term, however it has done it to ensure sustainable growth in the long term. RBI expects inflation to be around 4 to 4.5% in the medium term. D Subbarao said, “I believe that there is no new normal to inflation. We can bring it down to 5%, and then further down to 4-4.5% in the medium term.'    

Accepting the criticism that on the aggressive monetary policy standing of the central bank in order to control inflation and it is ignoring the slowdown across the sectors of economy, the RBI Governor said, 'Yes. We are sacrificing growth... in the short-term. But it is only to ensure sustainable growth in the medium term.'

'Our experience shows that when inflation is low, may be you can raise it somewhat and get high growth, but up to a threshold level. Beyond that threshold level, if you try to raise growth, by raising inflation, you actually end up with higher inflation and lower growth,' RBI governor added.

The headline inflation measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) has been hovering around the double digit number, despite the RBI’s aggressive monetary standing on inflation. Over the past 16 months, RBI has increased its short term lending and borrowing rates by 11 times or 325 (3.25%) basis points. However, RBI’s measures have been failed to tackle inflation.

Pointing out limitations of the monetary policy measures to tame inflation, he said, 'With one instrument, that is interest rate, you cannot at the same time restrain consumption and support investment. So, in the short-term you may have to sacrifice growth to generate an environment of rapid growth and steady inflation in the medium term.'

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