new delhi, Nov. 26 -- India's economic growth likely stayed strong at 7.2% in the July-September quarter, albeit down from 7.8% in the preceding one, a Mint poll of 15 economists showed. The reasons: Continued rural revival, low base and low inflation. The economists projected India's September quarter gross domestic product (GDP) growth in the range of 7% to 7.7%. The official data is scheduled to be released on Friday. The high projected growth number may be partially due to a low base-GDP growth had slowed to 5.6% in the same period last year from 6.5% in the preceding quarter. Besides, retail inflation slowed to 1.7% in Q2 from 2.7% in Q1, and wholesale inflation to 0.02% from 0.26%. This also boosts the real GDP growth figure, which adjusts current prices for inflation. Beyond statistical effects, high-frequency indicators did show improved growth momentum even before the recent goods and services tax (GST) rate cuts kicked in. "Pick-up in rural demand indicators have become broad-based, supported by the rise in rural wages and second consecutive year of good monsoons," said Gaura Sen Gupta, an economist at IDFC First Bank. Yuvika Singhal, an economist at QuantEco Research, pointed out that softer inflation conditions, transmission of earlier monetary policy easing, and inventory build-up in some sectors in anticipation of festive season demand-amplified by GST cuts at the end of September-also contributed to increased economic activity in the quarter. Slow growth in government capital expenditure (capex) compared to the previous quarter (37% vs 52%) is likely to weigh on growth, Aditi Nayar, chief economist at Icra, said in a report. Moreover, urban indicators largely remained weak during the quarter, as reflected in passenger vehicle sales and air travel. However, growth is still likely to surpass expectations as the impact of US tariffs on exports was not felt during the quarter. Exports rose 8.7% (as opposed to a 2.2% contraction in the previous quarter) due to front-loading of shipments as well as attempts to diversify trade. "Based on the trend of economic growth, the rationale for monetary easing is not very strong," Paras Jasrai, associate director at India Ratings and Research, said earlier this month. "However, to prevent the economy going deep in sluggish and weak growth, the RBI may go for a 25-50 basis points cut in the repo rate in its December 2025 monetary policy," he added....