RBI Launches Inflation Expectations, Consumer Confidence Survey

The Reserve Bank of India has been regularly conducting Consumer Confidence Survey (CCS). The July 21 round of survey is now being launched, the RBI has said in a release. The survey seeks qualitative responses from households, regarding their sentiments on general economic situation, employment scenario, price level, households' income and spending. The survey is conducted regularly in 13 cities, viz., Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Patna and Thiruvananthapuram. The survey covers approximately 5,400 respondents across 13 cities. The results of this survey provide useful inputs for monetary policy.

The Reserve Bank of India has also simultaneously launched the Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH).

"The July 21 round of survey is now being launched. The survey aims at capturing subjective assessments on price movements and inflation, of approximately 6,000 households, based on their individual consumption baskets, across 18 cities, viz., Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi and Thiruvananthapuram.

The survey seeks qualitative responses from households on price changes (general prices as well as prices of specific product groups) in the three months ahead as well as in the one year ahead period and quantitative responses on current, three months ahead and one year ahead inflation rates. The results of this survey provide useful inputs for monetary policy," the RBI said in a release.

"The agency, M/s Hansa Research Group Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai has been engaged to conduct the survey of this round on behalf of the Reserve Bank of India through face-to-face as well as telephonically, in view of the phase-wise resumption of activities. For this purpose, the selected households will be approached by the agency and they are requested to provide their response," the RBI has further added.

Both the surveys would be important points as it would highlight critical areas of the economy, which might help the RBI in resorting to framing policies.