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Satisfied over easing of inflation, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia on Friday said the Reserve Bank should take into account the improvement, while deciding on an interest rate cut in its mid-quarter policy review due on Monday, to boost growth.
"Certainly, 4.7 per per cent for the month is better than we had expected. I think it does indicate a distinct downturn on inflation which is welcome," Ahluwalia told reporters.
The Wholesale Price Index-based inflation fell to 4.7 per cent in May, driven mainly by a decline in prices of manufactured items, even as prices of food articles inched up. "They should certainly consider it because it is very clear that the underline inflationary pressure is softening," he said when asked on the steps needed to be taken by RBI.
The industrial output in April showed a very modest growth of 2.3 per cent, down from 3.4 per cent in March. According to Ahluwalia, food inflation in the longer period is also coming down. Inflation in food articles category, which has a 14.34 per cent share in the WPI basket, rose to 8.25 per cent in May. Inflation in this category was at 6.08 per cent in April.
"If you look at the components of inflation, the food prices increase has slightly gone up. This is the base level effect I was referring to earlier," Ahluwalia explained.
"Inflation is softening. I think the number is lower than it was last year. The good news is that the non-food inflation has really gone down much more than you thought it would. I think the base level effect will wear out in the years ahead," he added.
The non-food articles category, which include fibre, oil seeds and minerals, saw sharp decline in inflation to 4.88 per cent in May from 7.59 per cent in April.
