National · 23 updates
Mumbai: India's fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies could face renewed volume pressure as inflation pushes shoppers towards smaller packs, cheaper products and away from premium goods, with historical data suggesting a repeat of the 2022-24 consumption squeeze, Worldpanel by Numerator (Kantar) analysis showed.India's retail inflation rose to 5.54% year-on-year in September, the highest since the revised Consumer Price Index (CPI) series was introduced in January. During the previous inflation cycle, average FMCG pack sizes fell 11% from 188 grams to 167 grams between the March 2022 qua
India's wholesale price index-based inflation surged to 11.39% in September due to higher food, manufactured items, and energy prices. Wholesale inflation has risen significantly amidst global commodity inflation linked to the ongoing West Asia conflict. The rising costs have impacted various aspects of the economy, including the manufacturing sector and consumer prices. Retail inflation also increased to 5.54%, marking its highest level in 23 months.
India has made considerable progress in reducing poverty
Inflation in the food index rose to 8.66 per cent in September
India's merchandise trade deficit widened to $30.21 billion in September from $26.86 billion in August as imports grew faster than exports, government data released on Thursday showed, amid rising oil prices and supply disruptions linked to the escalating US-Iran conflict.The deficit was broadly in line with economists' expectations of $30.4 billion, according to a Reuters poll.<iframe src="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/dynamicchart?tab=EXP&year=1&type=line" width="100%" height="520" frameborder="0" scrolling="yes" border="0"></iframe>Merchandise imports rose to $74.
India's merchandise exports rose to $44.40 billion in September 2026, marking a significant year-on-year increase. Overall exports, including services, also grew to an estimated $80.75 billion during this period. Despite rising imports to $94.05 billion, the merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $30.21 billion. Negotiations for a trade agreement with the US are reportedly progressing towards an early conclusion.
The rural unemployment rate remains “broadly stable” at 4.2% against 4.1% in August, while urban rate marginally rises from 6.8% in August to 6.9% in this month
India's overall balance of payments showed a surplus of $45.4 billion in August 2026. This significant surplus is attributed to an increase in foreign currency inflows, especially from non-resident Indian deposits. The current account deficit also narrowed slightly to $5.2 billion during the same month. Foreign direct investment improved, with net inflows of $3.3 billion recorded.
Kyunghoon Kim said India will become the third-largest economy by 2030.
The government's recent decision to exclude sugar-based raw materials from its ethanol procurement process marks a strategic shift aimed at boosting domestic sugar availability. By allowing oil marketing companies to source ethanol from grains and C-heavy molasses, the government addresses rising sugar prices linked to adverse weather. This procurement adjustment seeks to maintain the ethanol blending program while balancing local consumption and reducing reliance on oil imports.