Rural food inflation stood at 5.79 per cent, while urban food inflation was 5.05 per cent; this was higher than 5.45 per cent and 5.09 per cent, respectively, in June
The Fitch Solutions unit says higher food prices could push up inflation and curb GDP growth as El Niño and West Asia tensions threaten agricultural output and input costs
A prolonged heatwave, delayed monsoon, expensive poultry feed have squeezed production across farms, pushing egg and chicken prices higher, raising concerns over how long the supply crunch could last
June inflation rose above the RBI's 4% target, with food, oil prices and monsoon risks clouding the outlook, making a status quo on rates the likely policy choice
Rain can send vegetable prices soaring within days, while the impact on pulses and cereals may take months to emerge. Milk, edible oils and sugar follow very different inflation paths
Food accounts for nearly 40% of India's CPI basket. That makes the monsoon one of the earliest signals of whether inflation stays under control or becomes a policy concern
Food inflation rose to 4.78 per cent in May, pushing up overall price pressures; rural inflation accelerated to 4.25 per cent, remaining above urban inflation at 3.53 per cent
Nestle India chairman and MD Manish Tiwary says urban demand remained resilient while rural recovery depended on monsoon outcomes, farm income and government support
The report said companies have already increased prices by around 3 per cent to 7 per cent over the past one to two months after their raw material basket costs climbed nearly 10 per cent on average
This year's adverse weather conditions will likely push inflation above 5 per cent in the fiscal year beginning April 1, exceeding the RBI's projection of 4.6 per cent
India's retail inflation rose to 3.4% in March, driven by higher food and fuel prices, with economists warning of further upside risks amid global uncertainties