eznews.in
Food inflation in India has plummeted to -5.02% in October 2025, marking a significant decline in prices across various categories, including oils, vegetables, and cereals. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the same month recorded a low retail inflation rate of 0.25%, the lowest since the base year of 2012, according to the Statistics Ministry. This decrease of 119 basis points from September is attributed to the full impact of reduced Goods and Services Tax (GST), a favorable base effect, and lower prices in several sectors. Rural food inflation stood at -4.85%, while urban food inflation fell to -5.18%. Overall, the rural sector experienced a headline inflation rate of -0.25%, down from -1.07% in September, while urban inflation decreased from 1.83% to 0.88%. Education and health inflation rates also saw slight increases, at 3.49% and 3.86%, respectively. 
Published: Nov 12 2025, 4 pmeznews.inSpiceJet, the cash-strapped Indian airline, reported a significant quarterly loss of ₹634 crore ($72.1 million) for the period ending September 30, widening from a loss of ₹442 crore a year earlier. The decline in passenger traffic, which fell by 22.5% to 751,000, coupled with soaring foreign exchange costs, exacerbated the financial strain. Revenue dropped by approximately 13% to ₹7.08 billion, with foreign exchange losses surging eight-fold to ₹188 crore, representing 26.5% of total revenue. Despite these challenges, SpiceJet has been slow to increase its fleet capacity, relying on wet-lease arrangements to temporarily boost operations ahead of the holiday season. Chairman Ajay Singh emphasized that the current financial results reflect short-term costs associated with fleet revival and expansion, asserting that these strategic investments are expected to yield positive outcomes in the upcoming quarter.
Published: Nov 12 2025, 4 pmeznews.inThe Indian cement industry is set to expand its grinding capacity by 160-170 million tonnes (MT) between FY26 and FY28, with an investment of approximately ₹1.2 lakh crore, according to a report by Crisil. This represents a 75% increase compared to the previous three fiscal years, during which the industry added 95 MT. The growth is driven by strong demand and high capacity utilisation, which reached 70% last fiscal, up from a decadal average of 65%. Notably, 65% of the new capacity will come from brownfield projects, minimizing costs and implementation challenges. Crisil's analysis, covering 17 major cement producers responsible for 85% of the 668 MT installed capacity as of March 31, 2025, indicates that financial leverage will remain stable, with a significant portion of the capital expenditure funded by healthy operating cash flows. Additionally, 10-15% of the capex will be allocated to green energy and efficiency improvements.
Published: Nov 12 2025, 3 pmeznews.inIndia's vast domestic market significantly reduces its vulnerability to external economic fluctuations, according to Aurelien Kruse, Lead Economist at the World Bank. Speaking at CareEdge Global's event, Kruse highlighted that India's scale, resilience, and favorable demographics position it as a robust player in the global economy. With a growing working-age population and a dependency ratio that supports economic growth, India is projected to maintain a growth rate between 6.3% and 7% in the coming years, as forecasted by both the World Bank and IMF. However, Kruse emphasized the need for India to enhance productivity and efficiency to aim for a growth rate of 10%. He noted that India's burgeoning digital and innovation sectors are crucial for this advancement. Despite global trade challenges, Kruse remains optimistic, asserting that India's economic trajectory is promising, and its openness to global markets will further bolster its growth potential.
Published: Nov 12 2025, 2 pmeznews.inIn New Delhi, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired the third pre-Budget consultation meeting focused on the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector as part of the preparations for the Union Budget 2026-27. The meeting, attended by Union Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary and senior officials from the Ministry of Finance and MSME, aimed to address key challenges faced by the sector and discuss measures to enhance its growth and competitiveness. The consultations are a crucial part of the budget preparation process, allowing the Finance Ministry to gather diverse perspectives from stakeholders, including industry associations and economists. These discussions are expected to inform the upcoming budget, which is set to be presented in Parliament on February 1, 2026. The series of pre-Budget meetings underscores the government's commitment to engaging with various sectors to ensure a comprehensive and inclusive budget.
Published: Nov 12 2025, 2 pmeznews.inRC Bhargava, Chairman of Maruti Suzuki India, has voiced concerns over the draft Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency (CAFE-3) standards, which he argues exhibit bias towards larger vehicles. Speaking to _businessline_, Bhargava emphasized that regulations should be neutral and not favour any specific class of vehicles unless explicitly mandated by the government. He criticized the initial CAFE draft released in December 2024 for favouring bigger cars, although he acknowledged improvements in the September revision that included small cars. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) recently submitted comments on the draft, revealing a split within the industry; while companies like Maruti and Toyota support small cars, others, including Tata and Hyundai, advocate for weight reductions in larger vehicles. Bhargava reiterated the need for fairness in the CAFE norms, arguing that regulations should promote efficiency and reduce emissions without bias.
Published: Nov 12 2025, 1 pmeznews.inThe Codex Alimentarius Commission, the United Nations' food standards body, has established a maximum lead limit of 2 mg/kg for culinary herbs and 2.5 mg/kg for spices, including cinnamon, to address health risks associated with lead exposure. Meeting in Rome from November 10 to 14, the Commission emphasized the importance of these limits due to lead's neurodevelopmental effects in children and other serious health issues, such as hypertension and impaired fertility. The new regulations will be incorporated into the General Standard for Contaminants and Toxins in Food and Feed. Additionally, the Commission revised its code of practice for reducing aflatoxin contamination in peanuts, highlighting the need for updated practices to combat this potent liver carcinogen. The panel also approved a standard for fresh dates to enhance consumer trust and facilitate international trade, reflecting the growing market for this product.
Published: Nov 12 2025, 1 pmeznews.inUnion Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal has staunchly defended the government's Quality Control Orders (QCOs), which aim to enhance product quality and promote a culture of excellence in manufacturing across various sectors, including toys and plywood. His remarks come in response to a NITI Aayog report suggesting the scrapping of certain QCOs, arguing they hinder India's competitiveness and burden MSMEs with increased costs and compliance challenges. Speaking at the Udyog Samagam 2025 event, Goyal emphasized that QCOs, which mandate compliance with Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) regulations, are crucial for improving local production quality and curbing low-quality imports. Currently, around 188 QCOs cover over 773 products, but the NITI Aayog has called for a rationalization of these measures, advocating for phased implementation and exemptions for essential raw materials to support smaller manufacturers.
Published: Nov 12 2025, 12 pmeznews.inU.S. trade tensions with China have hindered business jet opportunities for Gulfstream Aerospace, despite a generally positive global market for private aircraft, according to President Mark Burns. Gulfstream, a division of General Dynamics, plans to increase its jet production through 2029, driven by strong domestic demand and new aircraft models. While Burns acknowledges the broader global strength in the market, he noted that trade issues have slowed potential deals in China, where Gulfstream operates around 150 aircraft. Recent diplomatic efforts between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping aim to ease these tensions. The demand for private flying has surged among high-net-worth individuals post-COVID-19, with Gulfstream also benefiting from increased orders from Fortune 500 companies. The company anticipates further growth with the upcoming G300 jets, which will compete with Bombardier's Challenger 3500, contingent on robust demand and supply chain capacity.
Published: Nov 12 2025, 12 pmeznews.inIndia Ratings & Research (Ind-Ra) has projected a robust GDP growth of 7.2% for the second quarter of FY26, driven primarily by strong private consumption, as the National Statistics Office (NSO) prepares to release official GDP estimates on November 28. This follows a 5.6% expansion in the same quarter of the previous fiscal year. Ind-Ra noted that the economy has shown resilience, bolstered by steady real income growth across households and a thriving services sector, despite global economic uncertainties. Retail inflation has decreased more rapidly than anticipated, enhancing real wages and consumption demand. While nominal GDP growth is expected to dip below 8% year-on-year, the real GDP growth remains strong, aided by lower input costs. Ind-Ra also highlighted a healthy investment demand growth of 7.5%, supported by consistent government capital expenditure.
Published: Nov 12 2025, 12 pm
For the fastest, latest, not so wokest news, 'experts say' you need to visit Eznews
India
World
Economy
Science
Health
Showbiz
Contact