The retail inflation was 9.90 per cent in November and 9.75 per cent in October.

The vegetables basket in December recorded the highest inflation of 25.71 per cent among all the constituents that make the Consumer Price Index (CPI), according to data released today.

Vegetables were followed by the oil and fats segment at 16.73 per cent. Sugar turned more expensive by 13.55 per cent.

Pulses and cereals became dearer by 13.46 per cent and 13.70 per cent on an annual basis. Meat, fish and egg rose become 11.64 per cent more expensive.

Clothing and footwear witnessed 10.74 per cent increase in prices.

In urban areas, retail inflation rose to 10.42 per cent in December from 9.69 per cent in the previous month. The CPI for rural population increased to 10.74 per cent during the month from 9.97 per cent in November.

All India provisional General (all groups) CPI numbers of December 2012, for rural, urban and combined are 126.8, 124 and 125.6, respectively.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is expected to take into account the double-digit retail inflation when it comes out with its third-quarter policy review later this month. Wholesale price based inflation for November was at 7.24 per cent, much higher than the RBI comfort level of 5-6 per cent.

Concerned over the persistent inflation, the RBI has kept key interest rates unchanged since April, 2012.

Industrial output growth rate had contracted by 0.1 per cent in November, from a robust 8.3 per cent in October.

Wholesale Price Index: Inflation based on wholesale prices falls to 7.18 pc in Dec

PTI: Inflation based on wholesale prices declined marginally to 7.18 per cent in December even though rates of food items like rice, wheat, pulses and potato showed a rise.

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) was 7.24 per cent in November and 7.32 per cent in October. It was 7.74 per cent in December, 2011.

The third successive fall in inflation may prompt the Reserve Bank to cut interest rates in its policy review on January 29.

Food inflation, as a category, rose to 11.16 per cent in December against 8.50 per cent in the previous month. Food articles have 14.3 per cent share in the WPI basket.

While wheat turned more expensive by 23.23 per cent in December from 23.19 per cent in November, rice became dearer by 17.10 per cent from 11.80 per cent.

Potatoes were costlier by 89.08 per cent and onion by 69.24 per cent.

Milk prices declined by 5.85 per cent, while fruits were down by 5.76 per cent.

Eggs, fish and meat prices too moderated to 10.18 per cent compared to 14.19 per cent in the previous month.

For the fuel and power category, inflation was 9.38 per cent compared to 10.02 per cent in November.

The rate of price rise in the manufactured products moderated to 5.04 per cent in December as against 5.41 per cent in the previous month.

Inflation for October was revised downwards to 7.32 per cent from provisional figure of 7.45 per cent.

Retail inflation in December crossed double digit mark at 10.56 per cent, driven by higher prices of vegetables, edible oil, pulses and cereal.

Industrial output growth rate had contracted by 0.1 per cent in November, from a robust 8.3 per cent in October.

Concerned over the persistent inflation, the RBI has kept key interest rates unchanged since April, 2012.

The repo rate, at which RBI lends to the banks, has been retained at 8 per cent, while the reverse repo, at which RBI absorbs excess liquidity through borrowings from banks, is at 7 per cent.

COMMENTARY

RADHIKA RAO, ECONOMIST, FORECAST PTE, SINAGPORE

"While emerging signals on price pressures are still mixed - December CPI released quickened to 10.6 percent y/y on higher food costs, along with elevated PMI input/output price indices - odds for a 25 bps cut at the January meeting have increased.

"We believe the RBI will draw comfort from a) marked pullback in the non-food manufacturing index at 20-month low b) headline WPI could ease below 7 percent by March c) government's intention to rationalise suppressed price elements and possibly introduce reforms-oriented measures at the end-February budget.

"We pencil in 25 bps cut at the Jan. 29 rate review, followed by another like-sized cut in March."

ABHEEK BARUA, CHIEF ECONOMIST, HDFC BANK, NEW DELHI

"The number is much better than we had anticipated and it has come on the back of continued improvement in core inflation, which is heartening as it shows monetary policy has been working.

"The probability of a rate cut in January end has increased but the next question is whether it will be 25 basis points or higher. I think the RBI would want to be cautious given that there could be fuel price increase, and the passenger price increase could have an impact on CPI.

"To address the liquidity shortage, I think the RBI will address it through open market operations (OMOs) rather than CRR. I think it will be a dovish policy, and they will certainly give a guidance on OMOs. They would want to keep the CRR powder dry for the exchange rate situation."

ROBERT PRIOR-WANDESFORDE, DIRECTOR, ASIAN ECONOMICS RESEARCH, CREDIT SUISSE, SINGAPORE

"We also have the CPI numbers out as well which were a surprise ... in the opposite direction, and moved up quite sharply.

"We know the WPI is more important, but we also know the CPI can't be ignored. "I think it's fairly finely balanced but 50 basis points (in rate cuts) is slightly more likely than 25 in our view."

SAUGATA BHATTACHARYA, ECONOMIST, AXIS BANK, MUMBAI

"The revision (for October) has happened on the downside. That's very good news. The increase in the food price index is because of the cold wave in north India. It is a seasonal factor and not worrisome.

"We are definitely looking at a rate cut in January. The debate is whether it will be one large 50 basis points cut, or in small steps. Going by the recent economic indicators, we think the Reserve Bank of India might actually go for a 50 basis points cut."

RUPA REGE NITSURE, CHIEF ECONOMIST, BANK OF BARODA, MUMBAI "Headline inflation at 7.18 percent is a welcome relief. Core inflation has further eased to 4.24 percent on sustained reduction in the pricing power of manufacturing companies. Today's inflation reading combined with depressed industrial scenario strengthens the case for a 50 basis points reduction in the repo rate in the next review of the Reserve Bank's policy."

SAMIRAN CHAKRABORTY, REGIONAL HEAD OF RESEARCH, STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, MUMBAI

"We are looking at 25 basis points rate cut in January and for the full year we see 100 basis points of cuts. We have to see how much of diesel price increase is effected, whether it is 1 rupee a month or a one-time price increase. If the government removes the entire subsidy on diesel, then it will have a 80-100 basis points impact on inflation.

"We will probably see inflation below 7 percent by March. What is important is that inflation is trending down but headline inflation is still high, and given that we will see 25 basis points of rate cut rather than 50 basis points."

LEIF ESKESEN, CHIEF ECONOMIST FOR INDIA AND ASEAN, HSBC, SINGAPORE

"There is a relatively good chance that the Reserve Bank of India may act (cut interest rates) as soon as January. The historical revision is encouraging and breaks a trend. That together with a lower headline number could be encouraging to the RBI." SHUBHADA RAO, CHIEF ECONOMIST, YES BANK, MUMBAI

"Quite clearly, there's relief on the manufacturing trend. In any case, the data on the CPI was not very positive, although the core CPI inflation at 0.51 percent was a 9- month low. The data gave mixed signals.

"In terms of policy imprint, we continue to expect the RBI will cut rates by 25 basis points in January and give a commitment to maintain comfortable liquidity through open market operations. However, the quantum of monetary easing has become conditional due to higher headline CPI number.

"Between January and March, we expect the government to raise diesel prices by two rupees and LPG prices by 50 rupees/cylinder. The direct impact of that on inflation should be about 30-35 basis points."

UPASNA BHARDWAJ, ECONOMIST, ING VYSYA BANK, MUMBAI

"WPI figures provide considerable respite, especially with core inflation falling to the lowest level since April 2010. However, the elevated retail inflation continues to point towards persistently high food price pressures. Nevertheless, the easing WPI inflation does provide scope for RBI to cut policy rate by 25 bps in the forthcoming meeting and begin cautiously focusing on growth."

SHAKTI SATAPATHY, FIXED INCOME STRATEGIST, AK CAPITAL, MUMBAI "The moderation in the core inflation at 4.32 percent is quite encouraging and makes a case for higher rate cut (50 bps) in the forthcoming policy meet. Having said that, the comfortable yield levels and lesser threat of a high interest scenario in the coming days might push the central bank in taking a conservative rate cut of 25 bps in a staggered manner over next two policy meets. We believe the higher base and softening core to guide the RBI in shifting its focus to growth."

SUJAN HAJRA, CHIEF ECONOMIST, ANAND RATHI SECURITIES, MUMBAI "The WPI numbers are not only coming off, the revision was also lower. Inflation is clearly on a downward trajectory.

"With the industrial output numbers released earlier, it clearly looks that the RBI will be inclined to cut rates in January."

SURESH KUMAR RAMANATHAN, HEAD OF REGIONAL FX AND RATES STRATEGY, CIMB, KUALA LUMPUR

"Pipeline price pressures are down but end prices are still high. Once again the dilemma RBI faces in the midst of stubborn price pressures that shows no tendency to ease. It's once again down to the wires for RBI at the end of this month when monetary policy is deliberated. Weak industrial production, easing pipeline price pressures but high CPI, a very delicate task for RBI ahead. I still see an even chance of cut but as mentioned, the RBI is in a dilemma."

A. PRASANNA, ECONOMIST, ICICI SECURITIES, PRIMARY DEALERSHIP, MUMBAI

"We expect the manufacturing index to go up in January. But, based on this data, we expect the RBI to cut rates by 25 basis points. We could see inflation below 7 percent by March, but the caveat is diesel prices. At some point, the government has to raise diesel prices, as well as coal, and electricity prices. So, we see a scope for a total of 50 basis points cut in rates in January-March and then we expect a lengthy pause from the RBI."

MARKET REACTION

The 10-year government bond yield fell as much as 5 basis points to 7.81 percent from levels before the inflation data, marking its lowest since Aug. 11, 2010.

The rupee strengthened to as much as 54.61 per dollar from around 54.70 and was trading at 54.63/64.

The 1-year overnight index swap rate fell 4 bps to 7.49 percent, while the 5-year swap rate fell 3 bps to 7.16 percent.

The main stocks index marginally extended gains to 0.8 percent from 0.7 percent beforehand.

BACKGROUND

India's annual consumer price inflation accelerated to 10.56 percent in December from the previous month, government data showed on Monday. Analysts had expected retail prices to rise an annual 10.20 percent, above 9.90 percent in November.

Industrial output unexpectedly shrank in November, and while the data was badly distorted by the Diwali holiday it was still seen backing the case for an interest rate cut to boost an economy that appears set to post its slowest growth in a decade.

The trade deficit narrowed to $17.7 billion in December from $19.3 billion in November, even after exports fell for the eighth straight month, a trade ministry official said on Friday.

Finance Minister P. Chidambaram plans to meet investors in Asia and Europe this month in a drive to try and boost capital flows into Asia's third-largest economy, four sources with direct knowledge of the plan said.

The government moved last Wednesday to mend its strained finances, which have hit capital investment and put its sovereign credit ratings in peril.