WPI inflation falls to 8-month low of 3.80% in December

New Delhi:  Inflation based on wholesale prices fell to an eight-month low 3.80 percent in December, from 4.64 percent in November as prices of food articles and fuel softened.

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation 3.58 percent during the corresponding month of the previous year, official data showed on Monday.

According to the government data, food articles witnessed softening of prices with deflation at 0.07 percent in December, against  3.31 percent in November.

Vegetables, too, saw deflation at 17.55 percent in December, compared to 26.98 percent in the previous month.

Inflation in the 'fuel and power' basket in December slumped to 8.38 percent, nearly half of 16.28 percent in November. This was on account of lowering of prices of petrol and diesel through December.

Individually, in petrol and diesel inflation was 1.57 percent and 8.61 percent, respectively, and for liquified petroleum gas (LPG) it was 6.87 percent during December.

Among food articles, potato prices became cheaper substantially with inflation at 48.68 percent in December, as against 86.45 percent in November.

Inflation in pulses stood at 2.11 percent, while in 'egg, meat and fish' it was 4.55 percent.

Onion witnessed deflation of 63.83 percent in December, compared to 47.60 percent in November.

The 3.80 percent inflation is the lowest in 8 months, and a lower inflation than this was last seen in April at 3.62 percent.

Data for retail or consumer price index-based inflation would be released later in the day.