New Delhi, Dec. 12 -- India's retail inflation inched up to 0.71% in November from a record low of 0.25% in October due to narrowing food deflation and the fading impact of a favourable base effect. While headline inflation increased, core inflation, which excludes food and fuel groups, eased marginally to 4.23% from 4.33%, reflecting the impact of cuts in the goods and services tax (GST).

The latest print is marginally lower than the 0.8% projection in a recent Mint poll of economists. It marks the fourth instance in five months that headline inflation has stayed below the lower bound of the Reserve Bank of India's 2-6% target band.

Deflation in the food category narrowed to 3.91% in November from 5.02% in October, the government said ...