The retail inflation measured in terms of Consumer Price Index (CPI) was at 5.01% in May. The rate of price rise was at 6.77% in June last year.
Prices of pulses rose by 22.24% in June over the same month last year, as per the data released by Central Statistics Office (CSO) today.
The overall food inflation also increased to 5.48% during the month under review, from 4.8% in May.
However, it was lower than food inflation of 7.21% in June last year.
The inflation for fruit and vegetables was 3.51% and 5.37%, respectively, in June.
Among others, milk and its products were costlier by 7.18% in June over the same month last year.
Prices of protein-rich items such as ‘meat and fish’ rose by 6.99%, while spices turned costlier by 9.71% in the month.
Prices of prepared snacks and meals rose by 7.84%, clothing and footwear category by 6.34%, housing by 4.48% and fuel and light by 5.92%.
Among other categories, oils and fats prices rose by 3.06%, cereals and products by 1.98%, while that of egg rose by 5.09% in June.
The prices of sugar and confectionery items fell by 8.55% in June compared to same month last year.
The Reserve Bank, which tracks retail inflation as a benchmark for its monetary policy, said earlier last month that price rise was still a worry for the central bank. RBI expects inflation to rise to 6% by January 2016.
The central bank is scheduled to announce third bi-monthly monetary policy on August 4.
PTI