NEW DELHI (AP) — India’s benchmark inflation rate fell to a five year low of 2.4 percent in September as food and vegetable prices dropped.
Wholesale price inflation was 3.7 percent in August and 7.1 percent in September last year.
India has suffered chronically high inflation. But the lower level of price increases, if sustained, could pave the way for the central bank to cut interest rates next year to boost economic growth.
The Commerce Ministry data released on Tuesday said the index for the food articles group declined by 1.4 percent due to lower prices for tea, fruits and vegetables, maize, poultry chicken and fish.
India’s recently established retail inflation index rose 6.5 percent in September, its slowest increase on record.
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