Jargon buster: Growth momentum

It sounds grand and is often used by business leaders and politicians to paint a rosy picture, but what does “growth momentum” really mean?

The definition: The Barron’s Business Dictionary says it means: Rate of acceleration of an economic, price, or volume movement. An economy with strong growth that is likely to continue is said to have a lot of momentum.

How it is used: “On the way forward, the RBI will have to reverse the expansionary measures to anchor inflation expectation and subdue inflationary pressures while preserving the growth momentum.”

What can be used instead: Keep it simple. “While continuing to grow at a fast pace,” is easier to understand and only “costs” three extra words.