The wholesale inflation for June accelerated to 1.62 per cent from 0.79 per cent in May, according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The rise in the wholesale price index (WPI) was driven largely by inflation in the food articles segment.

Costlier vegetables, pulses and sugar pushed WPI-based inflation for the third straight month, raising the pitch for the Reserve Bank to reduce rates in its August policy meet.

This comes on the back of retail inflation for the month accelerating marginally to 5.77 per cent. The wholesale price index-based inflation, reflecting the annual rate of price rise, stood at (-)2.13 per cent in June 2015.