Wholesale price inflation eased to 5.7 per cent in March as prices of fuel and manufactured items declined.
WPI inflation was higher at 6.55 per cent in February. But it was in the negative zone at -0.45 per cent in March 2016.
“The build-up inflation rate in the financial year so far was 5.7 per cent compared to a build-up rate of -0.45 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous year,” said an official statement on Monday.
Headline inflation in the fuel and power group also eased to 18.16 per cent in March as against 21.02 per cent in February. “However, the price of LPG (2 per cent) and aviation turbine fuel (1 per cent) moved up,” said the release.
WPI inflation in the group manufactured products stood at 2.99 per cent in March versus 3.66 per cent in the previous month.
However, inflation in food articles rose marginally to 3.12 per cent in March compared to 2.69 per cent in February. This was primarily due to higher prices of fruits and vegetables and ragi (5 per cent each), bajra (2 per cent) and egg, fish-marine and rice (1 per cent each).