Retail inflation climbs to 5 per cent in October

Rising for the third straight month, retail inflation climbed to 5 per cent in October due to costlier pulses and other food items. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) based inflation in September stood at 4.41 per cent. In October 2014, the retail inflation was 4.62 per cent. Overall consumer food inflation during the month rose to 5.25 per cent in October, government data showed on Thursday. Retail inflation in pulses and products category rose to a staggering 42.20 per cent in October. While the price rise in the food and beverages category was at 5.34 per cent in October, inflation in cereals and products was also higher at 1.46 per cent. Retail inflation in vegetables and fruits stood at 2.42 per cent and 1.98 per cent respectively in October. However, among other protein rich items such as meat and fish, the rate of price rise has slowed to 5.01 per cent. Likewise, rate of retail price rise in milk and its products was 4.79 per cent.