Inflation, based on wholesale prices, eased marginally to 2(point)47 per cent in March on cheaper food articles, especially pulses and vegetables. It was 2.48 per cent in the previous month.
According to the Commerce Ministry data released today, food articles showed deflation at 0.29 per cent in March as against 0.88 per cent in the preceding
month.
The WPI inflation in March last year was at 5.11 per cent. Retail inflation, as per data released last week, slipped to a five-month low of 4.28 per cent in March on account of decline in food prices. Inflation in 'fuel and power' basket however rose to 4.70 per cent in March from 3.81 per cent in the previous month.