India’s retail inflation eases to 4.5% in October on lower food prices

India’s retail inflation cooled to 4.5%, down from 5.1%, the Statistics Ministry reported. The moderation was driven by easing vegetable and cereal prices, offsetting modest increases in fuel and services. The reading falls comfortably within the Reserve Bank of India’s 2–6% tolerance band. Economists said the decline supports the case for an extended policy hold while maintaining vigilance on global energy costs. Core inflation stayed near 3.8%, signaling broad disinflation. Analysts expect the RBI to continue a neutral stance at its upcoming December meeting.