After an upward trend that lasted four straight weeks, food inflation eased in end October, helped by a decline in vegetables and poultry products. Non-food inflation too dipped marginally, even as fuels held steady.
The annual WPI-based food inflation eased to 11.81 per cent in the week ended October 29, sharply lower than the previous week's annual rise of 12.21 per cent, which was a nine-month high.
The primary articles price index was up 11.43 per cent, compared with an annual rise of 12.08 per cent a week earlier.
To curb runaway inflation, the RBI raised interest rates last month for the thirteenth and possibly final time in a tightening cycle that began in early 2010, on expectations that persistently high inflation will finally begin to ease starting in December.