Inflation To Fall Below 6-Pc

For the first time in several months, the rate of inflation is expected to slip below the psychological 6% mark. This would bring some relief to the UPA government which has been grappling with price rise at all levels. The economy may well end the financial year (March 31, 2007) with an inflation rate of about 5.74%, measured by the wholesale price index. A strong base effect would place inflation at between 5.64% and 5.74% in the last week of the fiscal, close to RBI''s comfort band of 5-5.5%.