Smart Money | Preparing for economic uncertainty

Record fuel prices, rising food inflation, low interest on savings, war, zigzagging tariffs and global trade uncertainty are making short-term financial planning impossible for many households. Increments are on hold, your financial and retirement portfolio too are beginning to suddenly look inadequate. If you feel financial pressure from every direction and are worried, you are not alone. The Current Situation Index (CSI) by the Reserve Bank of India’s Urban Consumer Confidence Survey declined to 88.3 in July, signalling pessimism. This lower score indicates that urban households feel persistent caution regarding prevailing economic conditions and employment compared to a year ago, when the score was 96.5.