India's central bank keeps benchmark rates steady amid creeping inflation

India's central bank on Wednesday held interest rates at 5.25% for a fifth time in a row, even as the country's retail inflation has crossed the Reserve Bank of India's medium-term target of 4%. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast the policy rate would remain unchanged. The central bank noted that headline inflation had "edged up above target as expected," but core inflation, excluding precious metals, continues to "remain moderate." Core Inflation is expected to decline after peaking in the December quarter, Sanjay Malhotra, RBI governor, said in his address on Wednesday. He added that greater clarity needs to emerge on inflation about "its path, and composition before taking any policy action. Future rate action would also have to "consider the need for recalibration of policy rates in line with the evolving growth-inflation dynamics," Malhotra said. The higher inflation is mostly on account of fuel and food, with little signs of widespread price pressures so far. Several Asian countries including Japan, the Philippines, Indonesia, and South Korea have raised interest rates in the past few months to curb inflation as the conflict in the Middle East has driven energy prices higher. India's consumer inflation touched an 18-month high of 4.38% in June, as oil prices surged. Since May, the government has partially passed on the fuel price increases to the public, adding to cost pressures. The Indian central bank, however, has repeatedly emphasized that its focus is on core inflation — which excludes energy and food prices — which was at 3.7% at the end of April, and is expected to climb up to 4.7% in the financial year ending March 2027. But a prolonged rise in energy prices could lift core inflation as well through higher input, transportation, and operational costs. Inflation is expected to stay above 5% for eight months starting October, HSBC Global Investment Research said in a report on Monday. "That's a level that will be difficult for both the RBI and markets to overlook," it said, adding that it expects the central bank to raise rates in October and December by 25 basis points each. India, the world's fastest-growing major economy, is among the countries most vulnerable to the supply disruptions caused by the Iran war. The South Asian country meets nearly 85% of its fuel needs via imports and with Strait of Hormuz a key supply route prior to the war. India is also facing the risk of El Niño this year. Despite the copious downpour that led to flooding across many parts of the country in the past few weeks, India still faces the prospect of a deficient monsoon this year. India is facing strong macroeconomic headwinds with both its current account and fiscal deficit widening as of the quarter ended June, as per LSEG data. This, along with the persistent capital outflows, has made one of the worst performing Asian currencies.