December retail inflation picks up to 5 per cent on higher food costs

New Delhi: Annual consumer price inflation accelerated for the first time in five months in December to 5.0 per cent, driven by higher food costs, government data showed on Monday.

The data compared with a 5.4 per cent annual rise predicted by analysts.

Consumer food price inflation, under a new series published by the government, ran up to 4.78 per cent in December from 3.14 per cent in November.