Retail inflation hits a low of 2.18% in May; Industrial production up by 3.1% in April against 6.5% in same month last year

India's retail inflation eased to a low of to 2.18% in May as prices of kitchen staples like vegetables and pulses declined sharply although there was a marginal spike in fruit rates, according to government data released on Monday.

Clothing, housing, fuel and light also saw lower inflation.

Industrial production grew by 3.1% in April against 6.5% expansion in the same month last year.

India's core consumer price inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, eased to around 4.2% in May from around 4.4-4.5% in April.

Consumer prices rose 2.99% on year in April.

Retail food prices fell 1.05% last month from a year ago, compared with a 0.61% gain in April.

Prices of vegetables declined by 13.44 per cent and that of pulses and products by 19.45 per cent.

More details awaited.

Also read: RBI projects retail inflation to dip between 2-3.5 per cent in first half FY 2018

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