RBI launches consumer confidence and inflation surveys ahead of December policy review
The central bank starts nationwide data gathering to measure household spending, inflation sentiment, and income outlooks ahead of its policy meeting.
The Reserve Bank of India has launched the November 2026 rounds of three nationwide surveys to capture household sentiment on inflation, employment, income, and general economic conditions. The findings will provide empirical ground-level inputs for the central bank's Monetary Policy Committee, which is scheduled to convene from December 2 to 4, 2026.
The initiative reflects the central bank's proactive approach to economic monitoring, tracking real-time developments across both urban heartlands and rural regions. The three exercises comprise the Inflation Expectations Survey of Households, the Urban Consumer Confidence Survey, and the Rural Consumer Confidence Survey.
| Survey | Primary Focus | Geographic Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Inflation Expectations Survey | Price perceptions and consumption basket expectations | 19 major cities |
| Urban Consumer Confidence Survey | Assessments of economic situation, employment, income, and spending | 19 major cities |
| Rural Consumer Confidence Survey | Rural household perceptions and one-year expectations | Rural and semi-urban areas across 31 states and UTs |
Coverage across urban and rural India
The two urban-focused surveys will gather responses across 19 major economic hubs: Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Jammu, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Patna, Raipur, Ranchi, and Thiruvananthapuram. These surveys track individual perceptions of price movements alongside assessments of job stability and financial security.
Meanwhile, the Rural Consumer Confidence Survey extends coverage across rural and semi-urban households in 31 states and Union Territories. It measures current perceptions and one-year-ahead outlooks regarding local economic stability, household spending capacity, and price pressures.
Field execution and participation
To conduct the rural round, the Reserve Bank of India has engaged market research firm Ipsos Research Private Ltd., based in Gurugram. Field agents will contact selected households directly to record their responses.
To ensure wide accessibility and comprehensive data, the central bank has also permitted non-sampled individuals to participate independently by submitting filled survey schedules directly to its Division of Household Surveys in Mumbai.
The data collection drive underscores the central bank's institutional commitment to evidence-based policymaking, providing concrete data ahead of key macroeconomic decisions at the December policy review.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Urban survey cities | 19 cities | Reserve Bank of India |
| Rural survey geographic reach | 31 states and Union Territories | Reserve Bank of India |
| MPC meeting dates | December 2 to 4, 2026 | Reserve Bank of India |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Reserve Bank of India | Launched the three economic surveys and conducts monetary policy reviews. |
