Rupee's Slide Ignites Inflation Fears? PwC Expert Reveals Why India's Prices May Stay Stable!

The recent depreciation of the Indian rupee, which briefly crossed the 90-mark against the US dollar, is unlikely to significantly fuel inflation, according to Ranen Banerjee, partner and leader of Economic Advisory Services at PwC India.

Minimal Inflationary Impact

• PwC estimates that the rupee's slide would add no more than 10 to 20 basis points to overall price levels.
• This limited impact is a departure from the typical scenario where a weaker currency makes imports more expensive, thus driving up inflation.

Reasons for Reduced Pass-through

• Banerjee explained that a substantial portion of India's imports, including crude oil, primary commodities, and gold, are either re-exported or used in export-oriented sectors.
• This structure means that the increased cost of these imports due to a weaker rupee is not fully passed on to domestic consumers, thereby capping the inflationary effect.
• "There will be an inflationary impact, but given our export and import basket has changed, it is not going to be that high," Banerjee stated.

Broader Economic Perspective

• Banerjee cautioned against interpreting currency movements solely as indicators of economic strength or weakness.
• He emphasized the need to assess exchange rate shifts based on their broader macroeconomic implications.

Monetary Policy and Fiscal Outlook

• Regarding monetary policy, Banerjee believes the Reserve Bank of India’s Monetary Policy Committee has room to cut interest rates, though the timing requires careful consideration.
• He noted that if inflation remains benign and economic growth is robust, there isn't an immediate trigger for rate cuts.
• A key external factor to watch is the US Federal Reserve's policy path, as any divergence in rate movements could influence capital flows.
• Concerns about a weaker rupee straining public finances were also downplayed. Even a slight increase in the fertiliser subsidy bill is not expected to significantly alter fiscal calculations.
• PwC anticipates India will meet its fiscal deficit target for the current year, potentially achieving a deficit around 4.3 percent of GDP.
• Looking ahead, there's an expectation for the fiscal deficit to fall below 4 percent next year, aligning with the government's goal to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio to approximately 50 percent.
• The firm projects capital spending to reach Rs 12 lakh crore by FY27, supporting growth while fiscal consolidation continues.

Impact

• This analysis suggests that investors may not need to factor in significant inflation surprises due to currency movements, potentially easing pressure on interest rate expectations.
• The fiscal outlook, if maintained, could provide a stable macroeconomic environment, supporting investor confidence.
• Impact Rating: 7/10

Difficult Terms Explained

• Basis Points: A unit of measure used in finance to describe small changes in interest rates or other percentages. 100 basis points equal 1 percent.
• Pass-through: The extent to which changes in the exchange rate or import prices are reflected in domestic prices.
• Monetary Policy Committee (MPC): A committee of the Reserve Bank of India responsible for setting the benchmark interest rate (repo rate) in India.
• Federal Reserve (Fed): The central banking system of the United States.
• Yield Differential: The difference in interest rates between two countries' government bonds or other debt instruments.
• Capital Outflows: Money invested in a country that is withdrawn and moved elsewhere.
• Fiscal Deficit: The difference between the government's total expenditure and its total revenue, excluding borrowings.
• Debt-to-GDP Ratio: A measure of a country's debt relative to its economic output, calculated by dividing total government debt by the gross domestic product (GDP).
• Re-exported: Goods imported into a country and then exported to another country without significant processing.