Latest news with #IESH
News18
07-08-2025
- Business
- News18
Indian households see easing price pressures: RBI Survey
New Delhi [India], August 7 (ANI): Indian households have perceived and expected a decline in inflation levels, according to the Reserve Bank of India's July 2025 round of its bi-monthly Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH).The survey, conducted between July 1-12 across 19 major cities, covering 5,197 valid responses, indicates a broad-based easing of inflationary concerns. The median perception of current inflation dropped by 50 basis points to 7.2 per cent in July from 7.7 per cent in May expectations for the next three months and one year ahead also fell by 60 and 50 basis points, respectively, to 8.3 per cent and 9.0 per the three-month horizon, 79.5 per cent of households expect prices to increase, down from 80.5 per cent in May. For the one-year horizon, the number stood at 88.1 per cent, compared to 89.2 per cent in the previous round of survey done in May the share of respondents expecting food prices to rise dropped in the new survey to 80 per cent from 82.8 per cent in May. City-wise variations were stark. For example, Bhopal recorded the highest one-year ahead inflation expectation at 11.2 per cent, while Ahmedabad households saw the lowest at 5.4 per cent. Delhi respondents pegged current inflation at 8.1 per cent and anticipated it to increase up to 9.0 per cent a year persons and older respondents continued to have the highest inflation perception and expectations, with the 60+ age group projecting inflation to rise to 9.6 per cent in one year. In contrast, daily workers reported the lowest median expectation at 8.1 per Central Bank however clarified that the survey provides directional insight into near term inflationary pressure, RBI does not necessarily endorse these views 'it provides directional information on near-term inflationary pressures as expected by respondents and may reflect their own consumption patterns. Hence, survey results reflect respondents' views, which are not necessarily shared by the Reserve Bank" noted RBI. (ANI)
Business Standard
06-08-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Households price and inflationary pressures eased across major product groups
Reserve Bank of India (RBI) released the results of July 2025 round of its bi-monthly inflation expectations survey of households (IESH). The survey was conducted during July 1-12, 2025, in 19 major cities, with 5,197 valid responses. The central bank noted that Households median perception of current inflation declined by 50 basis points (bps) to 7.2 per cent, vis-vis May 2025 round; their inflation expectations for the next three months and one year moderated by 60 bps and 50 bps respectively. For both short term and one year ahead, the shares of respondents anticipating rise in general prices and inflation has come down. Price and inflationary pressures eased across major product groups including food products; non-food items and expenses related to housing.
Business Standard
24-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Monetary policy is crucial to manage household inflation expectations, shows RBI study
The RBI released a study paper in its July bulletin to understand the Indian household inflation expectations. This study uses unit level data on 1-year ahead median inflation expectations from the Reserve Banks Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH), to understand their dynamics post pandemic, key determinants and effectiveness of monetary policy in anchoring these expectations, particularly under the flexible inflation targeting (FIT) regime. Household inflation expectations are particularly important because households represent the largest and most diverse economic group, directly driving consumption. Unlike professional forecasters, households expectations are often shaped by personal experiences and are susceptible to fluctuations. Indian household inflation expectations, revealing that they remain elevated compared to those of professionals, even during periods of price stability. Demographic factors such as gender, age, and professional background play significant roles. Notably, men, older individuals (45 and above), self-employed and daily workers, who often operate on variable incomes, exhibit higher inflation expectations. In contrast, younger and salaried individuals show less disagreement and are more attuned to realized inflation dynamics, likely reflecting their exposure to financial and social network. Transition to the FIT regime, along with timely fiscal interventions such as export bans and lower import duties, and moderating inflation levels have contributed to decline in both the levels of expectations and disagreement across responses. However, supply shocks and global inflation shocks induced by the pandemic and geopolitical tensions have elevated the inflation expectations, particularly across headline, food and housing categories. High food inflation during periods of high inflation may keep the expectations elevated, even as headline matters more for inflation expectations. Nonetheless, most recently, as inflation has been showing signs of easing, expectations of households have also come down. Given the evidence of non-rationality and heterogeneity across different groups of households each reflecting their systematic biases the role of monetary policy becomes critical in managing inflation expectations. This, in turn, underscores the challenges of effective policy communication, making it essential to understand how these expectations are shaped and managed.
The National
09-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
French Islamic school shuts after raid as Emmanuel Macron takes hard line on Muslim Brotherhood
France's European Institute of Social Sciences (IESH), historically linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, has voluntarily disbanded after government accusations of alleged terrorism links and illicit financing, an insider has told The National. The announcement comes as President Emmanuel Macron intensifies his campaign against Brotherhood-affiliated institutions. The IESH, located in the central region of Burgundy, was officially notified on June 17 of the Interior Ministry of its intention to dissolve the institute, which educated about 200 students annually in Quranic studies, Islamic theology and the Arabic language. The ministry simultaneously froze IESH's assets. In response, the institute's board opted to shutter the centre pre-emptively and appealed the decision, saying in a press statement that it closure would be a 'negative signal sent to a whole section of society invested in civil peace and living together'. 'They accuse us of promoting terrorism, of denigrating women, and of applying Sharia principles,' said an IESH source who requested anonymity to speak more freely. 'This is based on books they found. That's not proof. On the contrary, we are here to comment on such books, put them in context, and explain what has no place.' The IESH was founded in 1992 on land acquired by the Brussels-based Council of European Muslims. It was identified in a recent report on the Muslim Brotherhood published by the Interior Ministry as one of the group's most important European institutions. The IESH was the 'pilot model' for other institutions that were subsequently created across Europe, according to the report. Where that leaves other institutions bearing its name is yet to be seen. The multistorey IESH in the Paris suburb of St Denis told The National that it had not been caught up in the state procedure against IESH in Burgundy. Operations there are not affected. The source in the institute added that without the IESH at Chateau Chinon, there would be no more institutions in France able to train Muslim religious leaders. 'No other institution to my knowledge adheres to Republican values,' they said. The IESH captured headlines in December when inspectors searched its premises amid suspicions of receiving funds from Qatar. Its IT equipment was confiscated shortly after. 'They came and took everything. We don't even have hard drives any more,' the source there said. 'We are in the process of closing down. There will be no back to school session in September.' The hilltop seminary is one of several Islamic institutions in France that has been pressured by the state to cease its activities. Other high-profile cases include the Averroes private school in the northern city of Lille. Asset freezes How IESH will be treated under the new measures announced on Monday by Mr Macron is now the open question facing the dissolved body. At an inner cabinet meeting, new measures dedicated to fighting the Muslim Brotherhood's influence in France were approved. Among them are the disbandment of endowment funds and a new asset-freeze mechanism. 'We have so far received no information regarding the latest announcements,' the source said. Mr Macron promised to boost the domestic training of imams – first announced in 2020 with little results – but gave no further details. According to the IESH source, about 80 per cent of its students came from France, with others from countries like Belgium, Germany and Spain. France has the largest Muslim minority population in Europe. The state will also block institutions from transferring funds abroad in case they are shut down, according to media reports after the cabinet meeting: 'The President approved measures to freeze financial assets supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, which were previously intended for terrorism cases.' When asked about the implementation of the new measures and the IESH, the Elysee redirected The National to the Interior Ministry which did not answer a request for comment. In France, there were nine dissolutions of endowment funds recorded at the end of May, Le Figaro reported, while seven other dissolution procedures are under way. A majority of countries have significant holes in how they investigate terrorism financing cases, according to a report published this week by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), a global money laundering watchdog. IESH has faced intensified scrutiny in the past months with a newspaper report in May making public the contents of an internal note written by intelligence services that accused the institution of strong links with the Muslim Brotherhood. Extremist debate Security services also suspected its director Larabi Becheri of receiving 40,000 euros in cash from a private Saudi donor in 2021, according to the report cited in Le Journal du Dimanche. Last summer, state services found books 'inciting jihad, encouraging anti-Semitism and legitimising violence against women', the newspaper added. In its defence, the IESH has worked to allay the concerns. It submitted a 40-page letter to the Interior Ministry since June defending its teaching programme. The institute has claimed to have co-operated with authorities, forwarding potential risk profiles to the local prefecture, which represents the state at a department level, newspaper La Croix reported. In 2020 interview, Mr Becheri acknowledged that his institute was founded 'on the basis of an idea' by the Muslim Brotherhood but insisted: 'There is no Muslim Brotherhood here.' It has its defenders. One of its teachers Bernard Godard, a former specialist in Islam at the Interior Ministry, who lectures in religious studies at the IESH, told La Croix that 'they are conservative in terms of morals and Islamic orthodoxy, but they are not fundamentalists'. Haoues Seniguer, a lecturer in political science at Sciences Po University who has visited IESH several times, told the daily that the institute was composed of 'conservatives who seek to facilitate the practice of observant Muslims in a French context'.
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Business Standard
29-04-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
RBI launches 3 surveys for inflation, consumer confidence, policy input
The Reserve Bank on Tuesday launched three key surveys, including inflation expectations, to gather useful inputs for monetary policy decisions. The RBI normally holds six bi-monthly monetary policy reviews in a financial year. The last meeting was held earlier this month, and the next meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee is scheduled for June 4-6. The May round of the Inflation Expectations Survey of Households (IESH) aims at capturing subjective assessments on price movements and inflation, based on their individual consumption baskets, across 19 cities. The central bank said the Urban Consumer Confidence Survey (UCCS) seeks qualitative responses from households, regarding their sentiments on the general economic situation, employment scenario, price level, and households' income and spending. This study, too, will be carried out in 19 cities. The Rural Consumer Confidence Survey (RCCS) will collect current perceptions and one-year-ahead expectations of households on general economic situation, employment scenario, overall price situation, own income and spending from the households residing in the rural and semi-urban areas across 31 states/ Union Territories. The Reserve Bank of India has been regularly conducting these surveys. The results of the surveys provide useful inputs for monetary policy, the RBI said.
