{
  "id": 656999,
  "title": "India July inflation accelerates to 4.45%, unlikely to alter RBI rate outlook",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/india-july-inflation-accelerates-to-4-45-unlikely-to-alter-rbi-rate",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-12T11:21:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Business Recorder",
    "slug": "business-recorder",
    "url": "https://www.brecorder.com/news/40434480/india-july-inflation-accelerates-to-445-unlikely-to-alter-rbi-rate-outlook"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "NEW DELHI: India's inflation rate surged to 4.45% in July due to higher food prices, a rate unlikely to prompt the central bank to alter its stance on interest rates, according to the latest figures released. This figure closely matched a Reuters poll of economists, who had predicted inflation at 4.50%, signaling the second straight month where inflation surpassed the Reserve Bank of India's 4% medium-term objective. The central bank maintained its benchmark repo rate at 5.25% last week, as policymakers awaited further evidence regarding whether inflationary pressures had become widespread across Asia's third-largest economy. Food inflation rose to 5.52% in July, up from 5.32% in June, due to poor monsoon rains, but experts anticipate it will ease with a slight recovery in the rains in August, reducing further price pressures from the effects of El Nino. Fitch Ratings affirmed India's credit rating based on strong growth but cautioned about the potential impact of youth unemployment on the fiscal profile. RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra explained that headline inflation exceeded the target mainly because of fuel price hikes, while overall price pressures remained contained at the central bank's most recent monetary policy meeting. The bank also revised its inflation forecast for 2026/27 down by 10 basis points to 5%. India's state-run fuel retailers increased petrol and diesel prices four times in May due to surging costs caused by the U.S.-Iran conflict. Although the global crude price drop following the conflict's brief pause alleviated some pressure, prices were still about 20% above pre-war levels. Economists believe that despite volatile crude oil prices during the month, the lack of any substantial increase in domestic retail fuel prices will keep consumer costs in check. However, transport inflation rose to 4.43% in July from 4.31% in June.",
  "summary": "NEW DELHI: India’s annual retail inflation accelerated to 4.45% in July on higher food prices, against 4.38% a month ago, a pace that’s unlikely to push the central bank to change its outlook on raising interest rates. The July print was nearly in-line with a Reuters poll of economists, which had estimated inflation at 4.50%, and marked the second consecutive month in which inflation breached the…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 12,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "FXStreet",
        "title": "US CPI data set to show softer inflation in July as markets reassess Fed rate hike bets",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/us-cpi-data-set-to-show-softer-inflation-in-july-as-markets-reassess",
        "published": "2026-08-12T08:30:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindu BusinessLine",
        "title": "Groww adds over 70,000 active clients in July: NSE data",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/groww-adds-over-70-000-active-clients-in-july-nse-data",
        "published": "2026-08-12T09:56:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Economic Times - Economy",
        "title": "India’s July inflation quickens to 4.45% from 4.38% in June, stays above RBI target",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/indias-july-inflation-quickens-to-4-45-from-4-38-in-june-stays-above",
        "published": "2026-08-12T10:34:13.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "CPI data: Retail inflation moves up to 4.45% in July; above RBI's target for 2nd month",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/cpi-data-retail-inflation-moves-up-to-4-45-in-july-above-rbis-target",
        "published": "2026-08-12T10:53:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CNBC World",
        "title": "India’s inflation accelerates to 4.45% in July, raising hopes of a rate hike later this year",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/indias-inflation-accelerates-to-4-45-in-july-raising-hopes-of-a-rate",
        "published": "2026-08-12T11:01:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Guardian Business",
        "title": "US inflation cooled slightly to 3.4% in July, according to latest data",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/us-inflation-cooled-slightly-to-3-4-in-july-according-to-latest-data",
        "published": "2026-08-12T12:39:46.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Inflation fell in July as Iran war marches on",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/inflation-fell-in-july-as-iran-war-marches-on",
        "published": "2026-08-12T12:46:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "WSJ Economy",
        "title": "The inflation rate cooled to 3.4% in July, the Labor Department said Wednesday, lower than June’s 3.5%",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/the-inflation-rate-cooled-to-3-4-in-july-the-labor-department-said",
        "published": "2026-08-12T13:03:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "CPI report shows inflation eased in July to a 3.4% annual pace",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/cpi-report-shows-inflation-eased-in-july-to-a-3-4-annual-pace",
        "published": "2026-08-12T13:05:05.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RTHK News - Finance",
        "title": "US inflation cools slightly to 3.4pc in July",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/us-inflation-cools-slightly-to-3-4pc-in-july",
        "published": "2026-08-12T13:40:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NPR",
        "title": "Inflation eases in July as gasoline and grocery prices fall",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/inflation-eases-in-july-as-gasoline-and-grocery-prices-fall",
        "published": "2026-08-12T14:00:29.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}