India's Dec retail inflation picks up to 5% on higher food costs

[NEW DELHI] India's annual consumer price inflation accelerated for the first time in five months in December to 5.0 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