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India’s Monetary Policy Committee Expected to Cut Interest Rates by 50 Basis Points to Boost Economic Growth
Some economists are advocating for a 50 basis point rate cut, instead of the usual 25 basis points, to stimulate economic growth and revive the credit cycle, amid benign inflation and subdued credit demand. The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is expected to announce its decision on Friday, with proponents of a larger rate cut believing it will provide a stronger boost to economic momentum.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is set to announce its latest bi-monthly review on Friday, and some economists are batting for an outsized rate cut of 50 basis points, instead of the customary 25 basis points. This move is expected to revive the credit cycle and boost economic growth, which has been uneven despite India’s fourth-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) expanding at a faster-than-expected rate of 7.4%. The country has retained its position as the world’s fastest-growing major economy, with a full-year growth rate of 6.5%. However, demand growth has been sluggish, with regulatory curbs on unsecured loans denting retail credit demand. The repo rate, or signaling rate, currently stands at 6% after the central bank reduced it twice this year, by 25 basis points each in February and April.
Economists Advocate for a Larger Rate Cut
Economists from the State Bank of India (SBI) and Piramal Enterprises are advocating for a 50 basis point reduction in the policy rates. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, group chief economic advisor at SBI, believes that a jumbo rate cut could act as a counterbalance to uncertainty, while Debopam Chaudhuri, chief economist at Piramal Enterprises, thinks that a larger-than-expected rate cut could help make up for lost time and deliver a stronger boost to economic growth. Some of the key highlights of their arguments include:
* A 50 basis point rate cut could revive the credit cycle and boost economic growth
* Inflation is expected to stay within the mandated legal band, with consumer price index (CPI) inflation expected to stay below 4% in FY26 until December
* Lower food prices are expected to drive CPI inflation to 3.6% in FY26 before it inches up to 4.1% in FY27
* A 50 basis point reduction in the June policy could reinvigorate the credit cycle, with bank loans climbing 12.1% in 2024-25, lower than 16.3% the year before
Justification for a Bigger Rate Cut
Proponents of a larger rate cut believe that it will provide a stronger boost to economic momentum, which has been sluggish despite the country’s high growth rate. Some of the key factors justifying a bigger rate cut include:
* Weak external and urban demand, along with high real rates, are a drag on growth
* An additional 50 basis point rate cut would ensure lower borrowing costs and stimulate growth
* Inflation is expected to stay within the mandated legal band, with CPI inflation expected to stay below 4% in FY26 until December
* A 50 basis point reduction in the June policy could reinvigorate the credit cycle, with bank loans climbing 12.1% in 2024-25, lower than 16.3% the year before
As ICICI Bank’s research report notes, “Weak external and urban demand along with high real rates are a drag on growth. An additional 50bps rate cut would ensure lower borrowing costs and is a stimulus to push growth higher.” Similarly, SBI’s Ghosh believes that a 50 basis point rate cut could reinvigorate the credit cycle, with bank loans climbing 12.1% in 2024-25, lower than 16.3% the year before.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) is expected to announce its latest bi-monthly review on Friday, and some economists are advocating for an outsized rate cut of 50 basis points to stimulate economic growth and revive the credit cycle. While the repo rate currently stands at 6%, proponents of a larger rate cut believe that it will provide a stronger boost to economic momentum, which has been sluggish despite the country’s high growth rate. With inflation expected to stay within the mandated legal band and lower food prices driving CPI inflation down, a 50 basis point rate cut could be the stimulus that the economy needs to push growth higher.
Keywords:
* Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)
* Interest Rate Cut
* Economic Growth
* Credit Cycle
* Inflation
* Consumer Price Index (CPI)
* Repo Rate
* State Bank of India (SBI)
* Piramal Enterprises
* ICICI Bank
Hashtags:
* #MonetaryPolicyCommittee
* #InterestRateCut
* #EconomicGrowth
* #CreditCycle
* #Inflation
* #ConsumerPriceIndex
* #RepoRate
* #StateBankOfIndia
* #PiramalEnterprises
* #ICICIBank
* #IndianEconomy
* #GDPGrowth
* #EconomicMomentum
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