Rural distress: WPI inflation eases to 3-month low of 4.64% in November

Wholesale food prices fell at a sharper rate of 3.31 per cent in November compared to 1.49 per cent in the previous month, reflecting the persistence of rural distress. This pulled down the overall wholesale price index (WPI) inflation rate to a three-month low of 4.64 per cent against 5.28 per cent in October.

November was the fifth month in a row when prices of food items kept declining.

Vegetables, pulses and fruits saw deflation, while non-vegetarian items such as eggs, meat and fish witnessed flat prices. Deflation rate in vegetables was as high as almost 27 per cent in November. 

The decline