India's LEI rises slightly in March amid signs of slowing growth: TCB
The Leading Economic Index (LEI) for India increased by 0.1 per cent in March 2025 to 158.7, after decreasing by 0.1 per cent in February, according to The Conference Board (TCB). Overall, the LEI grew by 0.5 per cent over the six-month period from September 2024 to March 2025, half the 1.0 per cent growth over the previous six-month period between March and September 2024.
India's Coincident Economic Index (CEI) increased by 3.8 per cent in March to 147.7, partially recovering after the steep drop of 6.8 per cent in February. The Index expanded by 2.6 per cent over the past six-month period ending in March 2025, a much faster rate than the 0.9 per cent growth over the previous six months, The Conference Board said in a press release.
India's Leading Economic Index (LEI) rose by 0.1 per cent to 158.7 in March 2025, while the Coincident Economic Index (CEI) jumped by 3.8 per cent to 147.7, according to The Conference Board. Despite slight improvements, sluggish LEI growth signals near-term challenges. India's GDP is forecast to slow to 5.9 per cent in 2025, down from 6.6 per cent in 2024.
'The LEI for India ticked up in March. The marginal gain reflects continued improvements in money supply and the interest rate spread, which offset the negative contributions from the other LEI components. Both the six-month and annual growth rates picked up slightly in March, however, they have not recovered all the lost momentum since October of 2024,' said Malala Lin, economic research associate, at The Conference Board . 'These sluggish growth rates for the LEI may indicate economic challenges in the near-term. In line with this, The Conference Board currently forecasts that India's real GDP will moderate after a strong Q1 and slow to 5.9 per cent growth in 2025 from 6.6 per cent in 2024.'
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (SG)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Standard
11 hours ago
- Business Standard
Core sector expands by 0.7% on year in May, Crude oil and Natural Gas output falls
The combined Index of Eight Core Industries (ICI) increased by 0.7 per cent (provisional) in May, 2025 as compared to the Index in May, 2024. The production of Cement, Steel, Coal and Refinery Products recorded positive growth in May, 2025. The Eight Core Industries comprise 40.27 percent of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP). The final growth rate of Index of Eight Core Industries for February 2025, March 2025 and April 2025 was observed at 3.4, 4.5 and 1.0 per cent respectively. The cumulative growth rate of ICI during April to May, 2025-26 is 0.8 per cent (provisional) as compared to the corresponding period of last year. Here are the segment wise details of the Index of Eight Core Industries: Coal - Coal production (weight: 10.33 per cent) increased by 2.8 per cent in May, 2025 over May, 2024. Its cumulative index increased by 3.1 per cent during April to May, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. Crude Oil - Crude Oil production (weight: 8.98 per cent) declined by 1.8 per cent in May, 2025 over May, 2024. Its cumulative index declined by 2.2 per cent during April to May, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. Natural Gas - Natural Gas production (weight: 6.88 per cent) declined by 3.6 per cent in May, 2025 over May, 2024. Its cumulative index declined by 2.3 per cent during April to May, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. Petroleum Refinery Products - Petroleum Refinery production (weight: 28.04 per cent) increased by 1.1 per cent in May, 2025 over May, 2024. Its cumulative index declined by 1.7 per cent during April to May, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. Fertilizers - Fertilizer production (weight: 2.63 per cent) declined by 5.9 per cent in May, 2025 over May, 2024. Its cumulative index declined by 5.1 per cent during April to May, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. Steel - Steel production (weight: 17.92 per cent) increased by 6.7 per cent in May, 2025 over May, 2024. Its cumulative index increased by 5.5 per cent during April to May, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. Cement - Cement production (weight: 5.37 per cent) increased by 9.2 per cent in May, 2025 over May, 2024. Its cumulative index increased by 7.8 per cent during April to May, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year. Electricity - Electricity generation (weight: 19.85 per cent) declined by 5.8 per cent in May, 2025 over May, 2024. Its cumulative index declined by 2.2 per cent during April to May, 2025-26 over corresponding period of the previous year.
Fibre2Fashion
11 hours ago
- Fibre2Fashion
Swiss National Bank cuts interest rate to zero
The Swiss National Bank yesterday cut its interest rate by 0.25 percentage points to zero. The new policy rate applies from today. The central bank sees low inflationary pressure ahead and lowered its policy rate to get inflation back within its 0-2 per cent target range. The Swiss National Bank has cut its interest rate by 0.25 pp to zero. The new policy rate applies from today. Its forecast put average annual inflation at 0.2 per cent for 2025, 0.5 per cent for 2026 and 0.7 per cent for 2027. It expects GDP growth of 1 per cent to 1.5 per cent for both 2025 and 2026. Unemployment is likely to continue to rise slightly and the economic outlook is uncertain. Inflation has declined further since the last monetary policy assessment. It decreased from 0.3 per cent in February to minus 0.1 per cent in May. Compared to March, the new conditional inflation forecast is lower in the short term. In the medium term, there is hardly any change from March. The forecast is within the range of price stability over the entire forecast horizon. It puts average annual inflation at 0.2 per cent for 2025, 0.5 per cent for 2026 and 0.7 per cent for 2027, a release from the central bank said. The forecast is based on the assumption that the policy rate is 0 per cent over the entire forecast horizon. Swiss gross domestic product (GDP) growth was strong in the first quarter this year. However, this development was largely due to the fact that, as in other countries, exports to the US were brought forward. When adjusted for these effects, growth momentum was more moderate. Following the strong first quarter, growth is likely to slow again and remain rather subdued over the remainder of the year. The central bank expects GDP growth of 1 per cent to 1.5 per cent for both 2025 and 2026. Unemployment is likely to continue to rise slightly. The economic outlook for Switzerland remains uncertain, and developments abroad continue to represent the main risk, the central bank observed. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Fibre2Fashion
14 hours ago
- Fibre2Fashion
Drewry WCI falls 7.45%, after six weeks of gains
The Drewry World Container Index (WCI)—a composite measure of container freight rates—dropped for the first time in over a month, falling 7.45 per cent to $3,279 per 40-foot equivalent unit (FEU) on June 19, down from $3,543 per FEU the previous week. The index declined after six consecutive weeks of gains, mainly due to low demand for US-bound cargo. This suggests that the recent surge in US imports, triggered by the temporary halt of higher US tariffs, is unlikely to have the lasting impact initially anticipated. Drewry WCI fell 7.45 per cent to $3,279 per FEU on June 19, its 1st decline in over a month, due to weaker US-bound demand. Despite recent drops, spot rates remain significantly higher than six weeks ago. Drewry forecasts softening in the supply-demand balance in the second half of 2025, with rate volatility likely influenced by legal challenges to tariffs and new US penalties on Chinese vessels. Freight rates from Shanghai to New York fell 10 per cent to $6,584 per 40-foot container over the past week. However, spot rates remain significantly higher—up 81 per cent compared to six weeks ago (May 8). Rates to Los Angeles dropped 20 per cent this week but have risen 73 per cent over the same six-week period. Meanwhile, freight rates increased from Shanghai to Rotterdam by 12 per cent to $3,171, and from Shanghai to Genoa by 1 per cent to $4,075 per 40-foot container. However, Drewry's Container Forecaster expects the supply-demand balance to weaken again in the second half of the current year, likely causing spot rates to decline. The volatility and timing of rate changes will depend on the outcomes of legal challenges to Trump's tariffs and on capacity shifts related to the introduction of US penalties on Chinese ships—factors that remain uncertain. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
