Retail inflation hits 6-month low of 4.83% in March

New Delhi: Retail inflation in March fell to a six-month low of 4.83 percent on account of cheaper food articles such as vegetables and pulses.

The retail inflation, measured on Consumer Price Index (CPI), in February was revised upwards to 5.26 percent from 5.18.

Consumer inflation was seen below this level at 4.41 percent in September 2015.

Food inflation for March too softened at 5.21 percent, showed the data released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI). In February, food inflation was at 5.30 percent.

The rate of price rise in vegetables was at 0.54 percent, oils and fats 4.85 percent, milk and products 3.33 percent, while fruit prices deflated further at (-)1.10 percent in March.

Pulses too turned cheaper, as the inflation print came in at 34.15 percent during the month.

However, inflation in sugar and confectionery shot up at 3.92 percent in March (from 0.51 percent in February). And for pan tobacco and intoxicants, the inflation stood at 8.51 percent (over 8.39 percent).

Retail price rise of cereals and products rose to 2.43 percent and that for meat and fish category, it moved up slightly with an inflation print of 7.74 percent.

Likewise, prices of eggs shot up further during the month with inflation standing at 6.68 percent.

The inflation rate, based on CPI for rural areas, stood at 5.70 percent, while that for urban areas was at 3.95 percent.

The prices are collected by the government from selected towns by the Field Operations Division of National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) and from selected villages by the Department of Posts.

The monthly data is released by the Central Statistics Office, under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.