The Hindu Editorial (A fragile momentum) – Mar 14, 2023

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The Hindu Editorial (A fragile momentum) – Mar 14, 2023:

fragile (adjective) – vulnerable, risky, unreliable, insecure.
momentum (noun) – the increase in the rate of growth of something; strength, impetus.
uneven (adjective) – inconsistent, varying, changeable, fluctuating, irregular, patchy.
sustain (verb) – continue, carry on, keep up, maintain, bolster up.
on the face of it (phrase) – apparently, seemingly, outwardly, ostensibly, at first glance, it seems (that), it appears (that), at face value, to go by appearances, by all accounts.
uptick (noun) – a small increase or upward trend.
Index of Industrial Production (IIP) (noun) – a composite (combined/complex) indicator that measures the changes in the volume of production of a basket of industrial products during a given period with respect to the volume of production in a chosen base period.
tidings (noun) – news, information, reports.
metric (noun) – measures of quantitative assessment used for comparing, and tracking performance.
contraction (noun) – In economics, it refers to a decline in national output as measured by gross domestic product.
gross value added (GVA) (noun) – it is a measure of total output and income in the economy. It provides the rupee value for the amount of goods and services produced in an economy after deducting the cost of inputs and raw materials that have gone into the production of those goods and services. It also gives a sector-specific picture like what is the growth in an area, industry, or sector of an economy. On the other hand, GDP or gross domestic product is a measure of economic activity in a country. It is the total value of a country’s annual output of goods and services.
shrink (verb) – lessen, reduce, decrease.
quarter (noun) – a period of three months (considered as one-fourth of a year).
buck the trend (phrase) – go against/oppose (principles) something predetermined.
to that end (phrase) – for that reason, with that goal.
moderate (adjective) – average, modest, medium, ordinary.
necessarily (adverb) – inevitably, certainly, surely.
for one (phrase) – used for highlighting that someone is thinking in a particular way, even if other people are not.
insipid (adjective) – uninteresting, boring, unexciting, lacklustre, pathetic.
mark (verb) – show, indicate, denote.
aid (verb) – help, assist, support.
infrastructure (noun) – the basic physical or organisational structure or framework that a country or organization needs in order to function properly. For a whole nation, it includes all the physical systems such as buildings, roads & railways networks, utilities, etc.
contraction (noun) – decline, decrease, reduction.
slip (verb) – fall, sink, drop, go down, decrease.
pare (verb) – reduce, lessen, diminish, decrease.
clock (verb) – register, record; achieve.
-intensive (adjective/usually in combination) – (in business) concentrating on a particular thing.
hawkish (adjective) – aggressive, contentious; relating to the policy that prioritizes lowering inflation and likely will raise interest rates. (A “hawk” refers to an economist who focuses on curbing or preventing inflation, typically through interest rates. A hawk is very concerned with the negative effects of inflation, so they advocate for higher interest rates to slow down the rise in price levels).
monetary policy (noun) – monetary policy refers to the use of monetary instruments under the control of the central bank to regulate magnitudes such as interest rates, money supply, and availability of credit with a view to achieving the ultimate objective of economic policy mentioned in the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934.
outlook (noun) – expectations, prospects, expectancy, future, lookout.
critical (adjective) – essential, important, key, high-priority.
augur well (verb) – bode, indicate, portend (a good outcome).
central bank (noun) – the banking regulator of a county’s banking system. (e.g. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is the central bank of India).
of equal concern (phrase) – if something is of concern to someone, they find it upsetting and disappointing.
The monetary policy committee (MPC) (noun) – it is a six-member panel that is expected to bring “value and transparency” to rate-setting decisions. It will feature three members from the RBI — the Governor, a Deputy Governor and another official — and three independent members to be selected by the Government. The MPC will meet four times a year to decide on monetary policy by a majority vote.
hold up (phrasal verb) – support, sustain, buttress, shore up, bolster up, prop up.
flag (verb) – indicate, identify, point out; draw attention to.
too close/high for comfort (phrase) – if something is too close/high for comfort, it is closer/higher than you would like it to be or than what is safe.
signal (verb) – show, indicate, signify.
enthuse (verb) – motivate, spur/stimulate, encourage.
consumer durables (noun) – manufactured products/goods (such as TV, fridge, AC, motorbike, car & etc) which last for an extended period of time.
consumer non-durables (noun) – products/goods (such as food, clothing, fuel, etc.) which are produced for immediate use and frequently replaced by the consumer.
year-on-year (adjective) – year over year (for comparison).
successive (adjective) – consecutive, in a row, straight, continuous, .
K-shaped recovery (noun) – In a K-shaped recovery, some parts of the economy may go through strong growth while others continue to decline. A K-shaped recovery occurs after a recession when certain parts of the economy resume growth while others lag behind.
point to (phrasal verb) – indicate, suggest, signal, signify, denote, reveal.
rebound (noun) – recovery, revival, rallying, bouncing back, picking up, comeback (in value of something after decline).