December retail inflation rises to 5% on higher food costs

Annual consumer price inflation (CPI) accelerated for the first time in five months in December to 5 per cent, driven by higher food costs, government data showed on Monday.

The data compared with a 5.4 per cent annual rise predicted by analysts in a Reuters poll and November's 4.4 per cent print.

Consumer food price inflation, under a new series published by the government, ran up to 4.78 per cent last month from 3.14 per cent in November.

(Reuters)