Oct retail inflation at 3.58%, highest in FY18 so far

Push from vegetable, fuel prices; RBI unlikely to cut rates in policy review next month

Consumer price index (CPI)-based inflation rose to this financial year's highest rate of 3.58 per cent in October, from 3.28 per cent in September, with food and fuel prices increasing at a higher pace.

This could stop the Reserve Bank (RBI) from cutting rates in its policy review next month to spur falling industrial growth.

However, inflation in various household goods and services declined, implying the goods and services tax (GST) did not have much impact. The GST Council's recent decision to cut the rates on around 200 items is likely to further dampen the rate of price rise of these items.

Food