inflation Archives - National Times

03 Mar

India’s Energy Shield: Six to Eight Weeks of Fuel Buffer Amid West Asia Conflict

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsBusiness, Indiacrude oil imports, Energy Security, inflation, Strategic Petroleum Reserves, West Asia Conflict

New Delhi (Gurpreet Singh): India holds sufficient crude oil and fuel inventories to meet domestic demand for six to eight weeks, providing a critical cushion against short-term supply disruptions caused by escalating military conflict in West Asia. High-level government sources confirmed that the country is well-prepared to navigate the crisis triggered by joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian facilities, which has effectively halted tanker movements through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has established a 24x7 control room to monitor the situation "on a daily and hourly basis." While approximately 50 per cent…

03 Mar

Global Oil Markets Shaken: Gas Prices Rise as Middle East Tensions Escalate

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, CanadaGas prices, inflation, Middle East conflict, Oil market, Strait of Hormuz

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian motorists are facing immediate pressure at the pumps this week as North American oil markets react to a significant escalation of conflict in the Middle East. Following a joint military operation by the U.S. and Israel against Iran on Saturday, concerns over the stability of global energy supply chains have sent crude prices on a volatile upward trajectory. The primary focus for market analysts is the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow yet vital waterway on Iran's southern border. Currently, approximately 20 per cent of the world's crude oil passes through this chokepoint. Over the weekend, several…

02 Mar

Bank of Canada Warns Potential Rate Hikes May Be Necessary Despite Weak Economic Growth

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBusiness, CanadaBank Of Canada, inflation, Interest rates, Monetary policy, Rate hikes, Reuters, Sharon Kozicki, Supply shocks

Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): The Bank of Canada has issued a cautious warning that interest rate increases may occasionally be required even during periods of economic stagnation, as the country prepares for significant structural shifts and potential global supply shocks. Speaking in Norway on Monday, March 2, 2026, Deputy Governor Sharon Kozicki addressed the "difficult trade-off" that central banks face when inflationary pressures are driven by supply-side disruptions rather than domestic demand. She noted that while it might seem counterintuitive to tighten monetary policy during a weak economy, such restraint is essential to prevent inflation from becoming persistent. Kozicki identified several…

02 Feb

Arvind Kejriwal Slams Union Budget 2026-27, Says It Fails to Address Unemployment and Inflation

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAAP, Arvind Kejriwal, Goa, inflation, unemployment, Union Budget 2026-27

New Delhi, February 2, 2026: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday strongly criticised the Union Budget 2026-27, claiming it lacks a clear strategy to deal with rising unemployment and inflation. Kejriwal said that, from a national standpoint, the Budget would worsen inflationary pressures and lead to further job losses, at a time when employment and price rise remain the biggest concerns for the country’s youth. “There is no concrete roadmap for job creation in this Budget. Instead, it will push inflation even higher,” Kejriwal alleged, adding that young people continue to suffer due to the absence…