<h1>Retail inflation rose to 0.71%, driven by food and fuel prices, affecting monetary policy assessment and rate outlook.</h1> Retail inflation rose to 0.71% in November due to higher food and fuel prices, and this pickup will inform the Monetary Policy Committee's data-dependent assessment; earlier low inflation had permitted policy rate reductions, while recent price firming reduces scope for large further cuts and makes near-term policy actions conditional on evolving inflation and fiscal developments.