New Delhi, Aug. 27 -- Retail sugar prices fell for the first time on Thursday after surging to a record Rs.65.06 a kg a day earlier, with the Centre's decision to allow duty-free imports of 1 million tonnes of raw sugar beginning to ease market prices.

The all-India average retail price fell to Rs.64.33 a kg from Rs.65.06 on Wednesday, according to the Consumer Affairs Ministry's daily price data. It had risen from Rs.55.73 a kg on August 20 to Rs.65.06 on August 26.

"Wholesale and mill prices had begun to ease, but retail prices remained sticky as they typically lag behind. Even though I still doubt whether sufficient quantities are actually available in the market, the wholesale price fall has begun to show up in retail," Agri expert ...