RBI asks states to address supply side issues

Mumbai: Ahead of mid-quarter monetary policy review, Reserve Bank Governor D Subbarao today asked state governments to address the issue of supply side bottlenecks against the backdrop of rise in prices. Addressing state finance secretaries here, he said both the centre and the states have important role in generating and promoting the supply response so […]

Mumbai: Ahead of mid-quarter monetary policy review, Reserve Bank Governor D Subbarao today asked state governments to address the issue of supply side bottlenecks against the backdrop of rise in prices. Addressing state finance secretaries here, he said both the centre and the states have important role in generating and promoting the supply response so that inflation could be managed within the comfortable zone.

The governor urged them "to continue introducing supply enhancing measures, including management of public distribution system, and steps to improve storage and transportation infrastructure...", an RBI statement quoted him as saying. After showing a marginal decline in March to 6.89 per cent, wholesale price-based inflation rose to 7.23 per cent in April. The rise in inflation was mainly due to increase in prices of food items.