SBI Research, IDFC First expect rate hike in October as crude prices climb: Higher oil prices & inflation raise likelihood of policy tightening

Economists are gearing up for a potential rate hike from the central bank as soon as October, driven by escalating crude oil prices and ongoing food inflation concerns. The CEO of Axis Bank has raised alarms about the increasing risks of inflation. This shift in monetary policy timing comes as the Monetary Policy Committee prepares to evaluate interest rates in early October, reversing earlier predictions of stability.