India's inflation likely fell to a 3-month low in February: Poll

Inflation eased to 6.80%, lower than January's 7.59%, according to a poll of economists

India's retail inflation likely cooled from recent highs to a three-month low in February, due to moderating food prices, but remained above the Reserve Bank of India's target band, a Reuters poll of economists found.

Inflation eased to 6.80%, significantly lower than January's 7.59%, according to the March 4-6 poll of more than 40 economists.

Forecasts in the poll ranged between 6.10% and 7.65% and 15 contributors expected consumer price inflation over or at 7%, suggesting strong price pressures are lingering. No one expected it to fall to within the RBI's comfort range of 2%-6%.

"We expect inflation to ease substantially, led by