Inflation at 4.06 per cent

New Delhi, Mar 31 (UNI) The annual rate of inflation stood at 4.06 per cent for the week ending March 18, as against 4.28 per cent in the previous week.

The inflation rate, calculated on point-to-point basis, was 5.45 per cent during the corresponding week of the previous year.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) raised the benchmark reverse repo rate by a quarter percentage point to 5.5 per cent in January, citing inflation risks from rising asset prices.

RBI Governor Dr Y V Reddy in his last credit policy had assured that the steps would be re-examined in course of time. ''We need to stabilise the inflationary expectations,'' he said.

The central bank is due to release the annual policy statement for the year 2006-07 on April 18.

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