Q1 GDP growth likely slowed for the third consecutive quarter: Report

May 27, 2022

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BENGALURU: India’s financial restoration from the Covid-19 pandemic doubtless stumbled once more within the first quarter of this 12 months primarily as a consequence of Omicron-related restrictions and better inflation, a Reuters ballot confirmed.
Development in Asia’s third-largest financial system was pencilled in at 4.0% for the January-March quarter from the identical interval a 12 months in the past in a Might 23-26 Reuters ballot of 46 economists, down from 5.4% in This autumn 2021. If realised, that might be the slowest in a 12 months, and a 3rd consecutive quarter of weaker development.
Rahul Bajoria, chief India economist at Barclays, pointed to the surge in Covid-19 infections brought on by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus and the ensuing restrictions on exercise imposed by varied state governments.
“Whereas the motion restrictions had been short-lived, different headwinds from world provide shortages and better enter prices additionally impeded the tempo of enlargement,” he stated.
Forecasts for the information, due at 1200 GMT on Might 31, ranged broadly, from 2.8% to five.5%.
Economists additionally famous a part of the weak spot within the upcoming launch could be as a consequence of a better base one 12 months in the past. The federal government doesn’t formally launch quarter-on-quarter GDP information.
January-March was the ultimate quarter of 2021/22 fiscal 12 months. The financial system grew at 20.3%, 8.5% and 5.4% within the first three quarters of the monetary 12 months, respectively, which might be revised.
A separate Reuters survey final month estimated common development for 2021/22 at 8.7%, decrease than the official second advance estimate of 8.9% launched on February 28.
The Reserve Financial institution of India, which had lengthy been specializing in development over its inflation mandate, solely just lately modified course and hiked its repo fee off report lows in an unscheduled Might assembly, with extra hikes to observe in a bid to regulate worth pressures.
Most economists warned sticky inflation and excessive rates of interest might dent client spending, which might ultimately dampen India’s primarily consumption pushed financial system.
“The RBI will proceed to focus on that total restoration has been first rate however there are dangers from elevated commodity costs and softer world development going forward,” stated Dhiraj Nim, economist at ANZ.
“The affect of upper rates of interest as a consequence of excessive inflation is anticipated to be internet unfavourable for development.”



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