Inflation further eases down to 5.74%

New Delhi, Apr 13 (UNI) The annual rate of inflation further came down to 5.74 per cent for the week ended March 31, from 6.39 per cent for the last week.

The headline inflation calculated on a point-to-point basis stood at 3.98 per cent during the corresponding week a year ago, official data showed here today.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram said this week that improving supply side constraints along with monetary and fiscal steps would help in moderating inflation.

''If the supply side improves together with monetary and fiscal steps, inflation will moderate'' Mr Chidambaram said.

Yesterday, the Government in its Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs (CCEA) meeting gave its approval to the import of 1.5 mmt pulses through public sector agencies to stabilise the prices in the market.

UNI