THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary - July 18, 2018 - Topic 1

Inflation worries

The Wholesale Price Index as a measure of price gains is back in the national spotlight. The latest data, which show a sharp surge in wholesale inflation in June, to a 54-month high of 5.77%, are a cause for concern. While the WPI is no longer the primary focus in the Reserve Bank of India’s inflation-targeting approach to monetary policy formulation — having ceded that role to the Consumer Price Index — the gauge remains economically significant nevertheless. The measure of wholesale price gains is the key deflator in computing the Index of Industrial Production and is also used to deflate Gross Domestic Product at current prices. 

A detailed look at WPI data for June reveals several pressure points warranting closer macro-economic scrutiny. Not only have rising crude oil prices persistently fanned inflation — by contributing significantly to a 214 basis-points month-on-month jump in June for the primary articles group — they have also led to rapidly accelerating double-digit price gains in the fuel and power group. Inflation in the fuel and power group has quickened every month since February’s 4.55% print, to 16.18% in June. Food articles are another source of worry, especially the prices of vegetables and the politically sensitive duo of potatoes and onions. While inflation in vegetable prices more than tripled in pace from May’s 2.51% to 8.12% in June, the annual gains in potato prices have been in a steep upward spiral for five straight months and exceeded 99% in June. And while inflation in onion prices at the wholesale level has cooled appreciably from January’s 194% level, at 18.25% the rate is still far from reassuring.

Manufactured products — the third key group-level constituent of the WPI with the largest weight of 64.2% — are also signalling a worrying wider inflationary trend. This could feed through to consumer price gains, which touched a five-month high of 5% in June. The headline inflation in this group, spanning 564 items, ticked up for a third consecutive month in June to 4.17%. Manufacture of basic metals that includes a range of goods from alloy steel castings, stainless steel tubes to copper plates and aluminium sheets — products that find diverse applications across multiple end-use industries — posted headline inflation of 17.34%, an increase from the 15.79% reading in May. To be sure, the price gains have to be seen from the perspective of an unfavourable base effect — WPI inflation in June 2017 was just 0.9%. But policymakers can ill afford to ease their vigil, especially given the government’s decision to increase the minimum support price for kharif crops and uncertainty about the spatial impact of this year’s monsoon rains on overall agricultural output. After all, a sustained trend of high WPI inflation will not only add pressure on the RBI to raise interest rates, but could also potentially undermine the pace of GDP growth.

Vocabulary

Concern: a matter of interest or importance to someone.

Example: Oil reserves are the concern of the Energy Department

Synonyms: responsibility, business, affair, charge, duty, job, province, preserve

Approach: a way of dealing with something.

Example: We need a whole new approach to the job

Synonyms: method, procedure, technique, modus operandi

Nevertheless: in spite of that; notwithstanding; all the same.

Example: Statements which, although literally true, are nevertheless misleading

Synonyms: nonetheless, even so, however, but, still, yet, though, in spite of that

Significant: sufficiently great or important to be worthy of attention; noteworthy.

Example: A significant increase in sales

Synonyms: notable, noteworthy, worthy of attention, remarkable, important

Scrutiny: critical observation or examination.

Example: Every aspect of local government was placed under scrutiny

Synonyms: examination, inspection, survey, study, perusal, investigation

Appreciably: considerably.

Example: Profits have grown appreciably over the last four years

Consecutive: following continuously.

Example: Five consecutive months of serious decline

Synonyms: successive, succeeding, following, in succession, running

Uncertainty: the state of being uncertain.

Example: Times of uncertainty and danger

Synonyms: unpredictability, unreliability, riskiness, chanciness, precariousness

Undermine: damage or weaken someone or something, especially gradually or insidiously.

Example: This could undermine years of hard work

Synonyms: subvert, undercut, sabotage, threaten, weaken, compromise, diminish