RBI launches 3 key surveys ahead of August MPC meeting to guide monetary policy

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) launched 3 key nationwide surveys, including the Inflation Expectations Survey of Households, to gather crucial inputs for formulating monetary policy ahead of the next Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting.

According to the central bank, the July 2026 Inflation Expectations Survey of Households will capture people's perceptions of current and future price movements based on their household consumption patterns across 19 cities. The survey seeks responses on expected price changes over the next three months and one year, along with estimates of inflation.

The RBI also launched the Rural Consumer Confidence Survey, which will assess households' views on the overall economic situation, employment, prices, income and spending across rural and semi-urban areas in 31 states and Union Territories.

Additionally, the Urban Consumer Confidence Survey will gather feedback from households in 19 cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai and Ahmedabad, on economic conditions, employment prospects, inflation, income and expenditure.

The central bank said the findings from these surveys will serve as important inputs for monetary policy formulation and help assess inflation expectations and consumer sentiment across the country.

The next meeting of the RBI's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which decides key policy rates, is scheduled to be held from August 3 to 5, 2026.