Growth is expected to firm up in 2018-19 and 2019-20 on the back of private consumption. Consumer price inflation is expected to increase in Q4:2018-19, firm up further and remain above 4.0 per cent in Q3:2019-20. The Reserve Bank has been conducting the Survey of Professional Forecasters (SPF) since September 2007. Twenty-seven panellists participated in the 56th round of the survey conducted during January 20192. The survey results are summarised in terms of their median forecasts and consolidated in Annexes 1-7, along with quarterly paths for key variables. Highlights: 1. Output • Real gross domestic product (GDP) is likely to grow at 7.2 per cent in 2018-19 and is expected to accelerate further by 10 basis points (bps) in 2019-20 on the back of support from private consumption (Table 1). • The investment rate, proxied by the ratio of gross fixed capital formation to GDP, is expected to improve in 2018-19 and 2019-20. • Real gross value added (GVA) is expected to grow by 7.0 per cent in 2018-19 and by 7.2 per cent in 2019-20, supported by activity in the industrial and services sectors.
Table 1: Median Forecast of Growth in GDP, GVA and Components |
(in per cent) |
|
2018-19 |
2019-20 |
Real GDP Growth |
7.2 (-0.2) |
7.3 (-0.2) |
Private Final Consumption Expenditure (nominal) (growth rate in per cent) |
11.4 (-1.1) |
11.9 (-0.2) |
Gross Fixed Capital Formation Rate (per cent of GDP) |
29.1 (+0.4) |
29.4 (+0.4) |
Real GVA Growth |
7.0 (-0.2) |
7.2 (-0.1) |
a. Agriculture and Allied Activities |
3.8 (-0.3) |
3.6 (-0.1) |
b. Industry |
7.5 (-0.1) |
7.3 (+0.2) |
c. Services |
7.5 (-0.4) |
8.0 (-0.3) |
Gross Saving Rate [per cent of gross national deposable income] (GNDI)] |
29.5 (-0.4) |
29.7 (-0.6) |
Note: In all the tables, the figures in parentheses indicate the extent of revision in median forecasts (percentage points) relative to the previous SPF round. |
• Forecasters have assigned the maximum probability to GDP growth being in the range of 7.0-7.4 per cent in both 2018-19 and 2019-20 (Chart 1).
Note: Tails of the distribution are not presented in the chart. Detailed probability distributions are given in Annex 6. 2. Inflation • Headline consumer price index (CPI) inflation is expected at 3.1 per cent in Q4:2018-19 and thereafter may increase gradually to reach 4.4 per cent by Q3:2019-20. • CPI inflation excluding food and beverages, pan, tobacco and intoxicants and fuel and light is expected at 5.6 per cent in Q4:2018-19 and is likely to decrease gradually thereafter, although remaining above 5.0 per cent till Q2:2019-20.
Table 2: Median Forecast of Quarterly Inflation |
(in per cent) |
|
Q4:18-19 |
Q1:19-20 |
Q2:19-20 |
Q3:19-20 |
CPI Headline |
3.1 (-0.9) |
3.5 (-1.0) |
4.0 (-0.6) |
4.4 |
CPI excluding ‘food & beverages’, ‘pan, tobacco & intoxicants’ and ‘fuel & light’ |
5.6 (-0.2) |
5.2 (-0.2) |
5.2 (-0.2) |
5.0 |
WPI All Commodities |
3.7 (-0.9) |
3.2 (-1.3) |
2.7 (-1.7) |
3.0 |
WPI Non-food Manufactured Products |
3.6 (-0.6) |
3.5 (-0.6) |
3.5 (-0.5) |
4.1 |
• Forecasters have assigned the highest probability to CPI inflation being in the ranges of 3.0-3.4 per cent in Q4:2018-19 and Q1:2019-20, 3.5- 4.4 per cent in Q2:2019-20 and 4.5- 4.9 per cent in Q3:2019-20 (Chart 2).
Note: Tails of the distribution are not presented in the chart. Detailed probability distributions are given in Annex 7. 3. External Sector • The forecast of growth in merchandise exports and merchandise imports during 2018-19 are expected at 9.7 per cent and 12.2 per cent, respectively, but deceleration is expected in 2019-20 (Table 3). • The current account deficit (CAD) is expected at 2.5 per cent of GDP in 2018-19 but may improve in 2019-20. • The Indian rupee is likely to remain around ₹71 per US Dollar till Q3:2019-20 (Annex 3).
Table 3: Median Forecast of Select External Sector Variables |
|
2018-19 |
2019-20 |
Merchandise Exports – in US $ terms (annual growth in per cent) |
9.7 (-0.9) |
7.6 (-1.3) |
Merchandise Imports– in US $ terms (annual growth in per cent) |
12.2 (-2.3) |
7.5 (-2.9) |
Current Account Deficit (Ratio to GDP at current market price, in per cent) |
2.5 (-0.2) |
2.3 (-0.3) |
The Reserve Bank thanks the following institutions for their participation in this round of the Survey of Professional Forecasters (SPF):
Debopam Chaudhuri (Piramal Enterprises Limited); Devendra Kumar Pant (India Ratings and Research); Dr Arun Singh (Dun & Bradstreet India); Gaurav Kapur (IndusInd Bank Limited); ICICI Securities Primary Dealership; Nikhil Gupta (Motilal Oswal); Pinaki M. Mukherjee; PHD Research Bureau; Sameer Narang (Bank of Baroda); Shailesh Kejariwal (B&K Securities India Pvt Ltd.); Siddharth V Kothari (Sunidhi Securities & Finance Ltd.); STCI Primary Dealer Ltd.; TAC Economics; and Upasna Bhardwaj (Kotak Mahindra Bank).
The Bank also acknowledges the contribution of thirteen others SPF panellists, who prefer to remain anonymous. |
Annex 1: Annual Forecasts for 2018-19 |
Key Macroeconomic Indicators |
Annual Forecasts for 2018-19 |
Mean |
Median |
Max |
Min |
1st quartile |
3rd quartile |
1 |
GDP at constant (2011-12) prices: Annual Growth (per cent) |
7.2 |
7.2 |
7.6 |
7.0 |
7.1 |
7.3 |
2 |
Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) at current prices: Annual Growth (per cent) |
11.3 |
11.4 |
12.0 |
10.5 |
10.9 |
11.6 |
3 |
Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) Rate (per cent of GDP at current market prices) |
29.1 |
29.1 |
29.5 |
28.7 |
28.9 |
29.5 |
4 |
GVA at basic prices at constant (2011-12) prices: Annual Growth rate (per cent) |
7.0 |
7.0 |
7.5 |
6.8 |
6.9 |
7.1 |
a |
Agriculture & Allied Activities (growth rate in per cent) |
3.8 |
3.8 |
4.7 |
3.0 |
3.6 |
4.0 |
b |
Industry (growth rate in per cent) |
7.5 |
7.5 |
8.4 |
5.9 |
7.3 |
7.8 |
c |
Services (growth rate in per cent) |
7.5 |
7.5 |
7.9 |
7.2 |
7.4 |
7.7 |
5 |
Gross Saving Rate (per cent of Gross National Disposable Income) - at current prices |
29.5 |
29.5 |
30.5 |
28.2 |
29.0 |
30.0 |
6 |
Fiscal Deficit of Central Govt. (per cent of GDP at current market prices) |
3.4 |
3.5 |
3.6 |
3.2 |
3.3 |
3.5 |
7 |
Combined Gross Fiscal Deficit (per cent to GDP) |
6.5 |
6.4 |
7.2 |
6.2 |
6.3 |
6.5 |
8 |
Bank Credit - Scheduled commercial banks: Annual Growth (per cent) |
13.2 |
13.1 |
16.0 |
10.5 |
12.0 |
14.2 |
9 |
Yield on 10-Year G-Sec of Central Govt. (end-period) |
7.4 |
7.5 |
7.7 |
7.3 |
7.3 |
7.6 |
10 |
Yield on 91-day T-Bill of Central Govt. (end-period) |
6.6 |
6.7 |
7.3 |
6.2 |
6.3 |
6.8 |
11 |
Merchandise Exports - BoP basis (in US$ terms)- Annual Growth (per cent) |
9.2 |
9.7 |
12.0 |
5.0 |
7.4 |
10.4 |
12 |
Merchandise Imports - BoP basis (in US$ terms)- Annual Growth (per cent) |
12.1 |
12.2 |
14.4 |
9.2 |
11.0 |
13.7 |
13 |
Current Account Balance - Ratio to GDP at current market price (per cent) |
-2.5 |
-2.5 |
-2.1 |
-3.0 |
-2.5 |
-2.4 |
14 |
Overall BoP - In US $ bn. |
-7.5 |
-10.4 |
48.2 |
-25.5 |
-18.0 |
-8.7 |
15 |
Inflation based on CPI-Combined - Headline |
3.6 |
3.6 |
4.0 |
3.4 |
3.5 |
3.7 |
16 |
Inflation based on CPI-Combined - excluding 'Food & Beverages', 'Pan, Tobacco & Intoxicants' and 'Fuel & Light' |
5.7 |
5.9 |
5.9 |
4.2 |
5.8 |
5.9 |
17 |
Inflation based on WPI - All Commodities |
4.6 |
4.5 |
4.9 |
4.3 |
4.5 |
4.7 |
18 |
Inflation based on WPI -Non-food Manufactured Products |
4.5 |
4.4 |
6.5 |
3.3 |
4.4 |
4.5 |
Annex 2: Annual Forecasts for 2019-20 |
Key Macroeconomic Indicators |
Annual Forecasts for 2019-20 |
Mean |
Median |
Max |
Min |
1st quartile |
3rd quartile |
1 |
GDP at constant (2011-12) prices: Annual Growth (per cent) |
7.3 |
7.3 |
8.1 |
6.1 |
7.2 |
7.5 |
2 |
Private Final Consumption Expenditure (PFCE) at current prices: Annual Growth (per cent) |
11.8 |
11.9 |
12.7 |
10.6 |
11.3 |
12.4 |
3 |
Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) Rate (per cent of GDP at current market prices) |
29.5 |
29.4 |
30.2 |
28.5 |
29.1 |
29.9 |
4 |
GVA at basic prices at constant (2011-12) prices: Annual Growth rate (per cent) |
7.2 |
7.2 |
7.9 |
6.6 |
7.0 |
7.4 |
a |
Agriculture & Allied Activities (growth rate in per cent) |
3.4 |
3.6 |
4.7 |
1.5 |
3.0 |
3.9 |
b |
Industry (growth rate in per cent) |
7.3 |
7.3 |
9.1 |
5.6 |
7.0 |
7.6 |
c |
Services (growth rate in per cent) |
8.0 |
8.0 |
9.2 |
7.3 |
7.8 |
8.1 |
5 |
Gross Saving Rate (per cent of Gross National Disposable Income) - at current prices |
29.8 |
29.7 |
30.8 |
27.5 |
29.5 |
30.3 |
6 |
Fiscal Deficit of Central Govt. (per cent of GDP at current market prices) |
3.3 |
3.3 |
3.5 |
3.0 |
3.2 |
3.3 |
7 |
Combined Gross Fiscal Deficit (per cent to GDP) |
6.3 |
6.2 |
7.0 |
5.7 |
6.1 |
6.5 |
8 |
Bank Credit - Scheduled commercial banks: Annual Growth (per cent) |
12.9 |
12.6 |
17.0 |
9.0 |
11.2 |
14.9 |
9 |
Yield on 10-Year G-Sec of Central Govt. (end-period) |
7.4 |
7.3 |
8.7 |
7.0 |
7.2 |
7.6 |
10 |
Yield on 91-day T-Bill of Central Govt. (end-period) |
6.6 |
6.6 |
7.7 |
6.1 |
6.1 |
7.0 |
11 |
Merchandise Exports - BoP basis (in US$ terms)- Annual Growth (per cent) |
8.3 |
7.6 |
15.0 |
3.8 |
5.2 |
12.4 |
12 |
Merchandise Imports - BoP basis (in US$ terms)- Annual Growth (per cent) |
8.0 |
7.5 |
22.0 |
-2.1 |
3.9 |
10.8 |
13 |
Current Account Balance - Ratio to GDP at current market price (per cent) |
-2.3 |
-2.3 |
-1.3 |
-2.9 |
-2.7 |
-2.1 |
14 |
Overall BoP - In US $ bn. |
9.2 |
9.1 |
49.8 |
-20.5 |
5.5 |
14.0 |
15 |
Inflation based on CPI-Combined - Headline |
4.1 |
4.2 |
4.5 |
3.3 |
3.8 |
4.3 |
16 |
Inflation based on CPI-Combined - excluding 'Food & Beverages', 'Pan, Tobacco & Intoxicants' and 'Fuel & Light' |
5.0 |
5.2 |
5.6 |
4.4 |
4.6 |
5.2 |
17 |
Inflation based on WPI - All Commodities |
3.4 |
3.7 |
4.5 |
1.9 |
2.9 |
4.0 |
18 |
Inflation based on WPI -Non-food Manufactured Products |
3.4 |
3.7 |
4.3 |
1.5 |
2.8 |
4.2 |
Annex 3: Quarterly Forecasts from Q3:2018-19 to Q3:2019-20 |
Key Macroeconomic Indicators |
Quarterly Forecasts |
Q3: 2018-19 |
Q4: 2018-19 |
Q1: 2019-20 |
Mean |
Median |
Max |
Min |
Mean |
Median |
Max |
Min |
Mean |
Median |
Max |
Min |
1 |
GDP at constant (2011-12) prices: Annual Growth (per cent) |
6.9 |
6.9 |
7.6 |
6.2 |
6.8 |
6.7 |
7.6 |
6.3 |
6.9 |
6.9 |
7.8 |
6.2 |
2 |
PFCE at current prices: Y-on-Y Growth (per cent) |
9.7 |
9.9 |
11.3 |
8.0 |
10.1 |
10.4 |
11.5 |
7.2 |
10.4 |
10.2 |
12.5 |
6.3 |
3 |
GFCF Rate (per cent of GDP at current market prices) |
28.7 |
28.9 |
29.3 |
27.9 |
29.1 |
29.2 |
29.6 |
28.6 |
29.3 |
29.2 |
29.9 |
28.7 |
4 |
GVA at constant (2011-12) prices: Annual Growth (per cent) |
6.7 |
6.6 |
7.7 |
6.0 |
6.5 |
6.5 |
7.5 |
6.0 |
6.8 |
6.7 |
7.8 |
6.4 |
a |
Agriculture & Allied Activities (growth rate in per cent) |
3.5 |
3.4 |
5.0 |
2.2 |
3.3 |
3.3 |
4.5 |
2.0 |
3.6 |
3.5 |
5.1 |
2.3 |
b |
Industry (growth rate in per cent) |
6.7 |
6.8 |
8.6 |
3.0 |
6.2 |
6.0 |
7.9 |
3.5 |
6.6 |
6.7 |
8.1 |
5.0 |
c |
Services (growth rate in per cent) |
7.5 |
7.5 |
8.2 |
7.0 |
7.4 |
7.5 |
8.2 |
6.7 |
7.6 |
7.7 |
8.7 |
6.6 |
5 |
IIP (2011-12=100): Quarterly Average Growth (per cent) |
4.1 |
3.9 |
6.0 |
2.8 |
3.7 |
3.7 |
6.5 |
0.0 |
4.9 |
4.8 |
7.5 |
2.1 |
6 |
Merchandise Exports - BoP basis (in US$ bn.) |
83.0 |
82.8 |
87.6 |
79.9 |
85.8 |
85.3 |
90.4 |
77.0 |
88.2 |
88.4 |
93.0 |
82.5 |
7 |
Merchandise Imports - BoP basis (in US$ bn.) |
131.5 |
130.9 |
141.2 |
125.2 |
131.2 |
131.3 |
142.3 |
122.0 |
137.2 |
135.7 |
146.0 |
124.0 |
8 |
Rupee – US Dollar Exchange rate (RBI reference rate) (end-period) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
70.6 |
70.6 |
73.0 |
68.5 |
70.7 |
71.1 |
74.0 |
67.6 |
9 |
Crude Oil (Indian basket) price (US $ per barrel) (end-period) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
63.6 |
60.5 |
80.0 |
56.0 |
62.3 |
62.5 |
75.0 |
47.2 |
10 |
Repo Rate (end-period) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
6.44 |
6.50 |
6.50 |
6.25 |
6.31 |
6.25 |
6.50 |
6.00 |
Key Macroeconomic Indicators |
Quarterly Forecasts |
Q2: 2019-20 |
Q3: 2019-20 |
Mean |
Median |
Max |
Min |
Mean |
Median |
Max |
Min |
1 |
GDP at constant (2011-12) prices: Annual Growth (per cent) |
7.3 |
7.4 |
8.1 |
6.3 |
7.3 |
7.4 |
8.0 |
5.8 |
2 |
PFCE at current prices: Y-on-Y Growth (per cent) |
10.6 |
11.1 |
12.4 |
6.8 |
11.3 |
11.7 |
13.5 |
7.5 |
3 |
GFCF Rate (per cent of GDP at current market prices) |
29.2 |
29.2 |
29.8 |
28.8 |
29.0 |
29.0 |
29.4 |
28.6 |
4 |
GVA at constant (2011-12) prices: Annual Growth (per cent) |
7.2 |
7.2 |
8.0 |
6.6 |
7.3 |
7.3 |
7.9 |
6.5 |
a |
Agriculture & Allied Activities (growth rate in per cent) |
3.4 |
3.2 |
4.6 |
2.5 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
4.5 |
1.6 |
b |
Industry (growth rate in per cent) |
7.3 |
7.1 |
8.9 |
5.3 |
7.6 |
7.5 |
10.3 |
5.9 |
c |
Services (growth rate in per cent) |
7.9 |
7.9 |
8.9 |
7.1 |
8.2 |
8.1 |
9.7 |
7.4 |
5 |
IIP (2011-12=100): Quarterly Average Growth (per cent) |
5.0 |
4.8 |
8.4 |
2.2 |
5.2 |
5.0 |
8.7 |
1.9 |
6 |
Merchandise Exports - BoP basis (in US$ bn.) |
88.9 |
89.2 |
93.1 |
82.1 |
90.6 |
90.5 |
99.0 |
84.6 |
7 |
Merchandise Imports - BoP basis (in US$ bn.) |
139.7 |
140.1 |
151.0 |
125.0 |
142.3 |
143.9 |
155.0 |
126.5 |
8 |
Rupee – US Dollar Exchange rate (RBI reference rate) (end-period) |
70.8 |
71.0 |
74.5 |
68.0 |
70.9 |
71.4 |
75.0 |
65.6 |
9 |
Crude Oil (Indian basket) price (US $ per barrel) (end-period) |
63.1 |
61.0 |
76.0 |
57.4 |
63.6 |
64.0 |
77.0 |
53.0 |
10 |
Repo Rate (end-period) |
6.25 |
6.25 |
6.50 |
6.00 |
6.26 |
6.25 |
6.75 |
6.00 |
Annex 4: Forecasts of CPI-Combined Inflation |
(per cent) |
|
CPI Combined Headline |
Core CPI Combined (excluding ‘Food & Beverages’, 'Pan, Tobacco & Intoxicants' and ‘Fuel & Light’) |
Mean |
Median |
Max |
Min |
Mean |
Median |
Max |
Min |
Q4:2018-19 |
3.0 |
3.1 |
3.7 |
2.3 |
5.6 |
5.6 |
6.2 |
5.1 |
Q1:2019-20 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
4.5 |
2.3 |
5.3 |
5.2 |
6.3 |
4.9 |
Q2:2019-20 |
3.8 |
4.0 |
4.6 |
2.7 |
5.3 |
5.2 |
6.0 |
4.8 |
Q3:2019-20 |
4.2 |
4.4 |
4.9 |
3.0 |
5.1 |
5.0 |
6.1 |
4.3 |
Annex 5: Forecasts of WPI Inflation |
(per cent) |
|
WPI Headline |
WPI Non-food Manufactured Products |
Mean |
Median |
Max |
Min |
Mean |
Median |
Max |
Min |
Q4:2018-19 |
3.9 |
3.7 |
5.0 |
3.1 |
3.8 |
3.6 |
4.8 |
2.8 |
Q1:2019-20 |
3.5 |
3.2 |
5.0 |
2.7 |
3.5 |
3.5 |
4.7 |
2.3 |
Q2:2019-20 |
3.0 |
2.7 |
4.4 |
1.4 |
3.2 |
3.5 |
4.6 |
1.5 |
Q3:2019-20 |
3.1 |
3.0 |
4.5 |
1.3 |
3.4 |
4.1 |
4.7 |
0.8 |
Annex 6: Mean probabilities attached to possible outcomes of Real GDP growth |
Growth Range |
Forecasts for 2018-19 |
Forecasts for 2019-20 |
10.0 per cent or more |
0.00 |
0.00 |
9.5 to 9.9 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
9.0 to 9.4 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
8.5 to 8.9 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
8.0 to 8.4 per cent |
0.01 |
0.03 |
7.5 to 7.9 per cent |
0.08 |
0.31 |
7.0 to 7.4 per cent |
0.74 |
0.47 |
6.5 to 6.9 per cent |
0.16 |
0.15 |
6.0 to 6.4 per cent |
0.01 |
0.04 |
5.5 to 5.9 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
5.0 to 5.4 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
4.5 to 4.9 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
4.0 to 4.4 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
3.5 to 3.9 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
3.0 to 3.4 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2.5 to 2.9 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
2.0 to 2.4 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
Below 2.0 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
Annex 7: Mean probabilities attached to possible outcomes of CPI (Combined) inflation |
Inflation Range |
Forecasts for Q4:2018-19 |
Forecasts for Q1:2019-20 |
Forecasts for Q2:2019-20 |
Forecasts for Q3:2019-20 |
8.0 per cent or above |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
7.5 to 7.9 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
7.0 to 7.4 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
6.5 to 6.9 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
6.0 to 6.4 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
5.5 to 5.9 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.01 |
5.0 to 5.4 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.04 |
0.05 |
4.5 to 4.9 per cent |
0.00 |
0.01 |
0.13 |
0.34 |
4.0 to 4.4 per cent |
0.03 |
0.11 |
0.30 |
0.26 |
3.5 to 3.9 per cent |
0.14 |
0.36 |
0.33 |
0.21 |
3.0 to 3.4 per cent |
0.43 |
0.42 |
0.13 |
0.10 |
2.5 to 2.9 per cent |
0.34 |
0.07 |
0.05 |
0.02 |
2.0 to 2.4 per cent |
0.05 |
0.01 |
0.01 |
0.00 |
1.5 to 1.9 per cent |
0.01 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
1.0 to 1.4 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.5 to 0.9 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0 to 0.4 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
Below 0 per cent |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
Note: CPI: Consumer Price Index; GDP: Gross Domestic Products; GNDI: Gross National Disposable Income; GVA: Gross Value Added; IIP: Index of Industrial Production; WPI: Wholesale Price Index. |
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