RBI survey: Consumer confidence on jobs, economic situation deteriorates

Consumer Confidence Indices

By Rajiv Shah
Results of the Consumer Confidence Survey (CCS), carried out by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for November 2018, suggest that growing pessimism on general economic situation and employment scenario. Conducted in 13 major cities – Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna and Thiruvananthapuram - RBI said, "Future expectations index (FEI) also moderated due to lower optimism on the employment scenario and household spending."
Based on 5,326 responses on households’ perceptions and expectations on the general economic situation, the employment scenario, the overall price situation and their own income and spending, the survey results show, to quote RBI, that the current situation index (CSI) "declined further in November 2018 in a phase that commenced in November 2016, on the back of growing pessimism on the general economic situation and the employment scenario as also some cutback in spending."

RBI further said, "Current sentiment on the general economic situation dipped further into the pessimistic zone, while the outlook for the year ahead was broadly unchanged from the previous round of the survey." It added, "Sentiment on the employment scenario also deteriorated for the current period and for the one year ahead horizon."
According to RBI, "Notwithstanding a marginal improvement in sentiment, consumers remained pessimistic about the price situation... In contrast, respondents’ assessment on the income situation for the current year improved, and they also expressed optimism about their income one year ahead... There was moderation in sentiment on households’ spending with cutbacks expected in expenditure on non-essential items."

Kamal Mitra Chenoy, scholar and student activist who never stopped being both

By Harsh Thakor* Professor Kamal Mitra Chenoy, who taught comparative politics and the Indian Constitution at the School of International Studies (SIS), Jawaharlal Nehru University, died on October 11. He was 75. A political scientist and public intellectual, he was known for his work on international relations, peace and conflict resolution, human rights and democratic values, and for his solidarity with students.

New UPF study strengthens case for statutory controls on junk food advertising

Counterview News A randomized controlled trial published in the journal Nature Metabolism has found that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) trigger metabolic and neural responses distinct from minimally processed foods—even when the two meals are nutritionally identical. The study provides direct experimental evidence that food processing itself influences health through mechanisms beyond calories and macronutrients alone.

New report reveals deep crisis in RTI's transparency watchdogs as citizens demand accountability

By A Representative As India marks 21 years of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, a new report by the civil rights to group Satark Nagrik Sangathan (SNS) has exposed a severe crisis in the functioning of Information Commissions (ICs), the final appellate authorities mandated to safeguard people's fundamental right to information.

Counterview

Search This Blog