Year-on-year, cost of food and beverages edged down 0.22 percent (1.21 percent in April), provisional estimates showed. The food index alone declined 1.05 percent, compared to a 0.3 percent rise in April. Prices fell 13.4 percent for vegetables (-8.59 percent in April) and 19.45 percent for pulses (-15.94 percent) and slowed for fruits (1.4 percent from 3.78 percent).
The inflation also eased for fuel and light (5.46 percent from 6.13 percent), clothing and footwear (4.41 percent from 4.58 percent) and housing (4.84 percent from 4.86 percent).
The corresponding provisional inflation rates for rural and urban areas are 2.3 percent and 2.13 percent (3.02 percent and 3.03 percent respectively in April).