In March, Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation eased to 3.3%, while Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation declined to 2.1%. This sharp sequential drop in headline CPI inflation was mainly driven by lower food prices. Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist at ICRA, noted that rising temperatures could push up prices of perishables in the coming weeks. Although the initial above-normal monsoon forecast is positive, its timing and distribution will be crucial for agricultural output and food inflation.