India’s retail inflation accelerated to 5.09% YoY in February, surpassing the expected 5.04% and marginally higher than January’s 5.10%. The uptick is primarily due to an 8.66% increase in food prices. The central bank remains cautious, maintaining its benchmark rate amid inflationary pressures, with Governor Shaktikanta Das emphasizing the need for inflation to stabilize around the 4% target before considering any rate cuts.