Covid-19 wave has resulted in significant deposit outflows from the banking system in alternated fortnights, the pace of which has now again moderated, according to a new report from State Bank of India's (SBI's) economic research department.
It said one of the worrying features is rising household debt stress. Household debt -- after taking into account retail loans, crop loans and business loans from financial institutions like commercial banks, credit societies, NBFCs and HFCs -- has sharply increased to 37.3 per cent of GDP in FY21 from 32.5 per cent of GDP in FY20. "The decline in bank deposits in FY21 and concomitant increase in health expenditure may result in further increase in household debt to GDP in FY22," said the report.