Retail inflation @ 9.9% in December

Some moderation in vegetable and fruit prices eased December retail inflation to three-month low of 9.87%, giving the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) more leeway to manage interest rates.
Inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for November has been revised marginally downwards to 11.16% from preliminary estimate of 11.24%. Vegetable prices on annual basis rose 38.76% in December, a slower pace than 61.6% recorded in the previous month. Fruit prices rose 14.64% compared to 15% in November.
Pulses were dearer by 2.15%, cereals by 12.14% and milk products by 9.87% cent in December. Protein-rich items such as eggs, meat and fish became dearer by 12.64% in December as compared to 11.96%.