<h1>Retail inflation reduction driven by lower core inflation and policy measures, supporting alignment with the inflation target next year.</h1> Retail inflation eased chiefly due to a decline in core inflation and lower fuel-price pressures, supported by monetary-policy measures and administrative actions such as strengthened buffer stocks, open-market releases and import facilitation. Food-price volatility from vegetables, pulses, onions and tomatoes-exacerbated by extreme weather and concentrated production-remains an important inflationary source; recommended responses include climate-resilient crop research, farmer training and high-frequency price monitoring. Forecasts cited foresee a gradual alignment of consumer inflation toward the inflation objective, aided by global commodity price softness.