Food inflation shocker points to higher yields, slower growth

Pulses are seeing higher prices due to higher demand and lower sown area, again due to expected weather conditions.

While data is disturbing to the policy makers, politicians, and bond and stock traders, let's spare a thought for the economically disadvantaged. A food inflation number of 11.5 percent year-on-year, doesn't reveal their terrible plight: Since the start of 2023, milk has become a luxury. Then veggies turned pricier and now even pulses and cereals are becoming beyond reach. Sugar is also inching higher. Only edible oils remain in check.

That said, the saving grace is, tomato prices seem to plateauing and even falling in many cities. Onions and potatoes are expected to follow suit by September. The government has started open market sales of wheat. We have stocks to manage rice prices as well through open market sales. Hopefully milk will become cheaper by October as the new calving season starts. Food as a whole may become more affordable when the festive season arrives. Although the pain may linger in the form of pricier pulses.

One big saving grace is that core inflation has come in lower than expected at 4.9 percent for July. The continued economic downturn in China means global commodities, except crude oil, will remain in check. Nevertheless, the overall data mix for interest rates has turned adverse.

The RBI had upped its Q2 CPI forecast from 5.4 to 6.2 percent in the August 10 policy statement and the Q3 CPI from 5.4 percent to 5.7 percent. It's now possible it may have to raise the Q2 forecast even higher to 6.8 percent. The full year FY24 CPI will also rise to 5.5 or 5.6 percent from RBIs August forecast of 5.4 percent. It is now clear that the chances of a rate cut recede to next August.

It's not just the food inflation, which RBI may explain away as transient. The global scenario has turned adverse. US 10-year bond yields have shot up to 4.2 percent from 3.7 percent in July and 3.5 percent in June. The dollar index has raced to 103.2, from sub-100 that it touched in July. All this because the US Producer price index has come in higher than expected and post the Fitch downgrade of US treasuries, bond experts like Bill Ackman have been speaking about the continued fiscal stress that can keep US bond yields higher for longer.

In an ambience of higher US yields and stronger dollar, RBI may have to worry about at least temporary flight of dollars and hence rupee weakness, though, it looks extremely unlikely it may have to resort to rate hikes to protect the rupee. The comfortable FX reserves and controlled current account deficit should help.

But, it is now very clear that RBI resorted to the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) hike on incremental deposits, not just to nullify the liquidity created by the return of the 2000 rupee notes, but because it genuinely fears excess liquidity will fan inflation. The central bank probably had an inkling that the July inflation will be far uglier than what the market was estimating.

Therefore, chances are that while RBI won't raise rates, it will keep liquidity tight. That means chances of the incremental CRR continuing beyond September 8, can't be ruled out. RBI governor said he has instruments other than rates, if inflation rises.

All told yields and rates look set to rise. Interest rate sensitive sectors like banks, NBFCs and real estate have some worrying periods ahead.

Finally, it's election season ahead. With high prices, one must expect government to tilt away from capex to full-on revenue expenditure through subsidies and income transfers. We are getting into a period of worsening fiscal, rising yields and slowing growth.

The time for trumpeting about our goldilocks economy and our impeccable macros has passed, at least for now.