Fitch Cuts India’s Growth Forecast

Days after India’s economy showed signs of recovery, Fitch Ratings Monday cut the country’s GDP growth forecast for the current fiscal to 6.7% from the earlier projected 6.9%, saying the rebound was weaker than expected.

It also cut GDP growth forecast for 2018-19 fiscal year to 7.3% from 7.4% predicted in its September Global Economic Outlook. Fitch, however, expects GDP growth to pick up in the next two years on back of gradual implementation of the structural reform agenda and higher real disposable income, NDTV reported.

“The Indian economy picked up in 3Q17 (July-September), with GDP growing by 6.3% year-on-year, up from 5.7% in 2Q17. However, the rebound was weaker than we expected, and we have reduced our growth forecast for the fiscal year to end-March 2018 (FY18) to 6.7% from 6.9% in the September GEO,” Fitch said in its latest GEO.

The US-based ratings agency said growth has “repeatedly disappointed” in recent quarters, partly because of one-off factors including the demonetization program of November 2016 and disruptions related to the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax in July 2017.

Reversing a five-quarter slide in GDP growth, Indian economy bounced back from a three-year low to expand by 6.3% in July-September as manufacturing revved up and businesses adjusted to the new GST tax regime.

The GDP growth in the second quarter of 2017-18 compares to 5.7% in April-June, the lowest growth rate since the Narendra Modi government took office, and 7.5% in the September quarter of the previous fiscal.

Stating that it expects GDP growth to pick up in the next two years, Fitch said gradual implementation of the structural reform agenda is expected to contribute to higher growth, as will higher real disposable income.

It said pick-up in global growth has been better than expected and went on to project 3.2% expansion this year and 3.3% next year.

China’s slowdown is likely to be only modest, while the stabilization in commodity prices is helping emerging markets outside China to continue to recover from the sharp downturn in 2015, it said.

China’s economy is likely to slow in 2018, but the slowdown is expected to be relatively modest with growth easing to 6.4% from 6.8% this year.