India's wholesale price index rose 1.31% in August from a year earlier, government data released on Tuesday showed. Economists polled by Reuters had estimated wholesale price inflation at 1.85% in August.

The rise in total imports was supported by a surge in core imports and gold and silver imports, following duty cuts announced in the July budget. However, the fall in oil imports did little to balance the growing trade deficit,

While wholesale prices of cereals, paddy, pulses, vegetables, onion, milk, eggs, fish and meat fell in August, those of wheat, potato, and fruits rose during the month

India's wholesale price index based inflation eased to a four month low of 1.31% in August, helped by falling costs of crude oil, steel and cement, although prices of food staples like potatoes and onions rose sharply.

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) fell to 1.31 per cent in August, according to the latest government data, marking a notable decrease from 2.04 per cent in July and a sharp drop from the 16-month high of 3.