Inflation in india In economics, inflation is a rise in the general level of prices of goods and services in an economy over a period

of time.[1] When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services. Consequently, inflation also reflects an erosion in the purchasing power of money a loss of real value in the internal medium of exchange and unit of account in the economy.[2][3] A chief measure of price inflation is the inflation rate, the annualized percentage change in a general price index (normally the Consumer Price Index) over time.[4] Inflation's effects on an economy are various and can be simultaneously positive and negative. Negative effects of inflation include a decrease in the real value of money and other monetary items over time, uncertainty over future inflation may discourage investment and savings, and high inflation may lead to shortages of goods if consumers begin hoarding out of concern that prices will increase in the future. Positive effects include ensuring central banks can adjust nominal interest rates (intended to mitigate recessions),[5] and encouraging investment in nonmonetary capital projects. Inflation is caused due to several economic factors:

When the government of a country print money in excess, prices increase to keep up with the increase in currency, leading to inflation. Increase in production and labor costs, have a direct impact on the price of the final product, resulting in inflation. When countries borrow money, they have to cope with the interest burden. This interest burden results in inflation. High taxes on consumer products, can also lead to inflation. Demands pull inflation, wherein the economy demands more goods and services than what is produced. Cost push inflation or supply shock inflation, wherein non availability of a commodity would lead to increase in prices.

Problems The problems due to inflation would be:

When the balance between supply and demand goes out of control, consumers could change their buying habits, forcing manufacturers to cut down production. The mortgage crisis of 2007 in USA could best illustrate the ill effects of inflation. Housing prices increases substantially from 2002 onwards, resulting in a dramatic decrease in demand. Inflation can create major problems in the economy. Price increase can worsen the poverty affecting low income household, Inflation creates economic uncertainty and is a dampener to the investment climate slowing growth and finally it reduce savings and thereby consumption.

The producers would not be able to control the cost of raw material and labor and hence the price of the final product. This could result in less profit or in some extreme case no profit, forcing them out of business. Manufacturers would not have an incentive to invest in new equipment and new technology. Uncertainty would force people to withdraw money from the bank and convert it into product with long lasting value like gold, artifacts.

India inflation

Indias 2009-10 Economic Survey Report suggests a high double-digit increase in food inflation, with signs of inflation spreading to various other sectors as well. The Deputy Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, however, expressed his optimism in March 2010 about an imminent easing of Indian wholesale price index-based inflation, on the back of falling oil and food prices. For 2009, Indian inflation stood at 11.49% Y-o-Y. This rate reflects the general increase in prices, taking into account the purchasing power of the common man. According to the Economic Survey Report for 2009-10, economic growth decelerated to 6.7% in 2008-09, from 9% in 2007-08. The economy is expected to grow by 8.7% in 2010-11, with a return to a growth rate of 9% in 2011-12. The Indian method for calculating inflation, the Wholesale Price Index, is different from the rest of world. Each week, the wholesale price of a set of 435 goods is calculated by the Indian government. Since these are wholesale prices, the actual prices paid by consumers are far higher. In times of rising inflation, this also means that the cost of living increases are much higher for the populace. Cooking gas prices, for example, have increased by around 20% in 2008.

With most of Indias vast population living close to or below the poverty line, inflation acts as a Poor Mans Tax. This effect is amplified when food prices rise, since food represents more than half of the expenditure of this group.

The dramatic increase in inflation will have both economic and political implications for the government, with an election due within the year.

Economic growth in emerging markets has slowed but is far from over. With the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) alone accounting for more than 3 billion people, and with these people consuming more resources every year, it is likely that

higher inflation rates will be with us for a good while yet - and that is worrying news for the government of India