Inflation seen at 10.45 pct on Oct 25

It would be the lowest inflation rate since May 31, when it was 9.32 per cent. Inflation had surged into double digits in the first week of June after a hike in state-set retail fuel prices.

8220;We expect a drop in the primary commodity prices, a continued drop in the fuel prices and the manufacturing index as well,8221; said Saugata Bhattacharya, economist with Axis Bank.

In early August, the inflation rate had hit 12.91 per cent, the highest reading since annual numbers in the current data series became available in April 1995.

The data is due around 6 p.m. on Thursday.

The wholesale price index is more closely watched than the consumer price index CPI because it includes more products and is also published weekly. The CPI is released monthly.