NEW DELHI, Nov 14 (Reuters) - India's wholesale price-based inflation (INWPI=ECI) , opens new tab accelerated to a four-month high of 2.36% year on year in October due to elevated food prices, government data released on Thursday showed.

Inflation for October was higher than the 2.2% projected by economists in a Reuters poll, and up from 1.84% in September.

Food prices rose 11.6% year on year, compared to a 9.5% gain in September, with vegetable prices soaring 63% on-year, compared to a 48.7% jump in September. Cereal prices rose 7.9% over last year versus an 8.1% rise a month ago.

Prices of manufactured products rose 1.5% against a 1% rise in the previous month.

Fuel and power prices dropped 5.8% from a 4% fall in September.

Headline retail inflation, which is a key gauge for the country's central bank to decide policy rates, has averaged 5% over the past 12 months, but food inflation has held above 8%, as weather shocks elevated prices of vegetables, cereals and other essential food items.

In October, retail inflation hit a 14-month high of 6.2% while food prices jumped 10.9%, dashing hopes of an interest cut.

India's rate-setting panel had softened its policy stance in October to "neutral" but Reserve Bank of India Governor Shaktikanta Das has said the change did not mean there will be a rate cut in the very next meeting.

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https://www.reuters.com/world/india/indias-october-wholesale-prices-rise-236-year-2024-11-14/