RBI hikes repo rate again in a bid to tame inflation

New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India's (RBI) monetary policy committee (MPC) on Wednesday hiked the repo rate by 35 basis points (bps) to 6.25 per cent with immediate effect, Governor Shaktikanta Das announced.

It is the fifth straight rate hike by the central bank in this financial year. Prior to this, the RBI had raised the repo rate by 40 bps in an off-cycle meeting in May and 50 bps in June, August and September.

As the repo rate is the interest rate at which the central bank lends money to commercial banks, the move can cause EMIs payable on loans to go up.

The MPC also raised the retail inflation forecast for October-December 2022 period to 6.6 per cent from 6.5 per cent.

The retail inflation forecast for January-March 2023 period was raised to 5.9 per cent from 5.8 per cent.

The MPC though retained the retail inflation forecast for the first quarter of 2023-24 at 5 per cent and has kept it at 5.4 per cent for the second quarter of FY24.

Striking an optimistic note on the rupee, Das said in his speech that the currency has appreciated by 3.2 per cent during April-October in real terms, even as major currencies have depreciated.

"Rupee should be allowed to find its level," he said.

FDI inflows rose to $22.7 billion in April to October 2022 from $21.3 billion in the corresponding period last year.

Slowing external demand weighing on India's merchandise exports, he noted further.

"Size of our forex reserves is comfortable and has increased and they stand at $561.2 billion as on December 2," Das informed.

-IANS Inputs