India advances release timing of inflation, factory output data

India’s statistics ministry has advanced the timing of release of retail inflation and factory output data by an hour and-a-half to 4pm on the 12 of every month, a government statement said.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) and Index of Industrial Production (IIP) data are currently released on the 12th of each month at 5.30pm. If the 12th is a holiday, CPI data comes out the next working day and IIP data the previous working day.

Releasing such crucial economic data 90 minutes ahead will enhance accessibility, the ministry said, indicating that this change will allow policymakers, analysts, and media to access and analyze the data more effectively during business hours.

CPI and IIP reflect inflationary trends, and the new release timing will continue to align with the closing hours of major financial markets in India, “ensuring that CPI data dissemination does not interfere with active trading,” the ministry said.

This adjustment also adheres to the ministry’s commitment to transparency and accessibility in data dissemination, it added.