The food price index rose 18.22 per cent in the 12 months to Dec. 26,while the fuel index was up 4.85 per cent,the government said on Thursday. The driest spell in nearly four decades and then floods in parts of the country have pushed up food prices,which officials and policymakers have said could fuel broader inflation. C. Rangarajan,the prime minister's economic adviser,on Tuesday said some liquidity tightening might be needed to moderate price expectations. India's annual wholesale inflation rose to 4.78 per cent in November,compared with 1.34 per cent rise in October and 8.48 per cent a year ago.
