New Delhi, Aug. 12 -- India's retail inflation accelerated to 4.45% in July, led by higher food and fuel prices, surpassing the Reserve Bank of India's 4% midpoint target for the second successive month since January 2025, according to provisional data released by the ministry of statistics and programme implementation on Wednesday.

Inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), marginally exceeded the median estimate of 4.4% forecast by 18 economists in a Mint poll, as the full impact of petrol and diesel price hikes and firmer food prices came into effect.

Food inflation, a key constituent of the CPI, stood at 5.52% in July, up from 5.32% in June, 4.78% in May and 4.20% in April.

Although inflation remains within the RBI's to...