New Delhi, July 11 (IANS) Retail inflation for industrial workers eased to a 4-month low of 3.86 per cent in May compared to 4.42 per cent in the same month a year ago, according to the latest data released by the Labour Ministry.

The Consumer Price Index-Industrial Workers (CPI-IW) has been steadily declining since February this year and was 3.87 per cent in April 2024, figures compiled by the Labour ministry show.

The All-India CPI-IW for May 2024 increased by 0.5 points and stood at 139.9 points. It was 139.4 points in April 2024.

The fuel & light segment declined to 149.5 points in May from 152.8 points in April 2024.

The food and beverages group increased to 145.2 points in May from 143.4 points in April this year.

The Labour Bureau, under the Ministry of Labour & Employment, compiles the Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers every month on the basis of retail prices collected from 317 markets spread across 88 industrially important centres in the country.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 11 (IANS) Driven by rural demand recovery owing to normal monsoon and moderating inflation, India is projected to see a surge in private consumption in the current fiscal, a report has said.

According to India Ratings and Research, the rise in private consumption would lead to more balanced growth, reducing the disparity between premium and value segments.

According to the report, urban demand will also continue to grow but at a slower pace.

The growth disparity would moderate in FY25, exhibiting slightly more broad-based growth contours, said India Ratings.

There has been a constant rise in rural consumption demand in recent years.

Riding on a revival in rural demand and steady urban growth, the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector in India is also projected to see a revenue growth of 7-9 per cent this fiscal.

According to a recent Crisil Ratings’ study of 77 FMCG companies, “We expect volume growth of 6-7 per cent in fiscal 2025 from the rural consumers (40 per cent of overall revenue), supported by expectation of better monsoon benefitting agricultural production, and hike in minimum support price supporting farm incomes.

According to the report, higher government spending on rural infrastructure, primarily through Pradhan Mantri Awaas Yojana-Grameen (PMAY-G) for affordable houses, will aid higher savings in rural India, supporting their ability to spend more.

On the other hand, according to the Crisil report, volume growth from urban consumers will remain steady at 7-8 per cent during fiscal 2025 supported by rising disposable incomes and continued focus on premium offerings by the players, especially in the personal care and home care segments.

The food and beverages (F&B) segment is expected to grow 8-9 per cent this fiscal, aided by improving rural demand.

–IANS

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Seoul, July 11 (IANS) Kia, Nissan Korea and three other carmakers will voluntarily recall more than 1,56,000 vehicles due to faulty components, the transport ministry here said on Thursday.

The five companies, also including Hyundai Motor Co., Porsche Korea and Toyota Motor Korea Co., will recall 1,56,740 units of 32 different models, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement.

The problems that prompted the recall include poor durability of the electronic control hydraulic unit of 1,39,478 units of the Sorento SUV model, reports Yonhap news agency.

Also, 8,802 vehicles across eight Nissan models, including the Q50 model, were found to have defective manufacturing of the propeller shaft.

Hyundai’s luxury brand Genesis will recall 2,782 GV70 units due to defective engine ignition connection bolts. Porsche Korea will recall 2,054 vehicles across 17 models, including the 911 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet, due to a safety issue involving the lane-keeping function.

Toyota Korea will recall 737 vehicles across three models, including the Prius 2WD, due to a defect in the rear door external handle, the ministry said.

–IANS

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Wellington, July 11 (IANS) New Zealand is a country full of regulatory barriers, said a survey released by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) on Thursday.

New Zealand Minister for Regulation David Seymour stressed the need for New Zealand’s regulatory reform, citing areas that are found to be particularly overregulated including barriers to foreign direct investment, acquiring licences and permits, and administrative and regulatory burden.

“It is too difficult to invest, and Kiwis have their productivity sapped because of the time spent complying with edicts from Wellington,” Seymour said.

The result from the five-yearly OECD Product Market Regulation Indicators should end any and all doubt that the government must go to war on red tape and regulation, he said.

The quality of regulation in New Zealand is in freefall, from being ranked second in 1998 to twentieth in this year’s survey, he said, adding that it is no coincidence that New Zealand experienced strong productivity growth in the 1990s but has fallen behind since.

The Ministry for Regulation aims to cut existing red tape with sector reviews, to improve the scrutiny of new laws, and to improve the capability of the regulatory workforce.

“The culture of lawmaking needs real change, so Kiwis spend less time complying, and more time doing. The end result is higher wages and lower living costs,” the minister said.

The OECD survey, of about 1,000 questions, assesses the degree to which policies and regulations promote or inhibit competition in product markets.

–IANS

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New Delhi, July 11 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Thursday hold a meeting with leading economists to discuss the Union Budget 2024-25.

The budget will be presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Parliament on July 23. The Budget Session will start on July 22 and conclude on August 12.

Economists, industry experts and Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery will discuss the fiscal situation and strategies, and also present views and recommendations to the Prime Minister at the meeting, according to sources.

This will be the first Budget of the Modi-led government in its third term at the Centre.

PM Modi returned to the national capital on Thursday morning after concluding his two-nation visit to Russia and Austria.

Last month during her address to a joint session of Parliament, President Droupadi Murmu indicated that the government would come out with historic steps to accelerate the pace of reforms.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has held discussions with various stakeholders, including economists and captains of industry on the forthcoming Budget.

–IANS

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