RBI will look at other variables, not just WPI-based inflation: Deputy Governor

06 Jun 2013 Evaluate

Expressing cautious stance again, ahead of the monetary policy, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Deputy Governor K C Chakrabarty said the central bank would look at other variables, and not just the wholesale price-based inflation, when deciding monetary policy at its review on June 17. The deputy governor’s statement further enforces a hawkish tone and a rate-cut in the June 17 policy review looks little unlikely.

Though so far the RBI's main gauge of inflation remained wholesale prices, but the apex bank is also increasingly looking at consumer inflation and other variables such as the current account deficit (CAD) when determining policy.

Recently, the RBI in its annual monetary policy slashed the key interest rate by just 0.25% to 7.25% and kept the liquidity enhancing cash reserve requirement (CRR) unchanged. Further, justifying its stance, RBI Governor D Subbarao had said that the ‘monetary policy action, by itself, cannot revive growth. It needs to be supplemented by efforts towards easing the supply bottlenecks, improving governance and stepping public investment.’ 

Also describing the widening CAD and its financing as the biggest threat to monetary policy, the apex bank had warned that growth would slip if governance is not improved and supply constraints are not unlocked.

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