The wholesale price index (WPI)-based annual rate of inflation stood at 11.89 per cent for the week ended July 12, marginally lower than the 11.91 per cent reported in the previous week.  

Inflation was 4.76 per cent during the corresponding week a year-ago.

According to official figures, the moderation was due to fall in prices of food items like potato, maize, sea fish, tea and imported edible oils, though other commodities like coffee, fruits and vegetables, mutton and certain pulses like urad, moong and arhar became expensive during the week ended July 12.

On a week-on-week basis, the WPI rose to 239 for the week ended July 12, from 238.7 in the previous week, prompting the finance ministry to say that inflation remains stable.

RBI is expected to raise CRR rate by 25-50 basis points next week from 8.5%, in order to cool knock-on effects of higher fuel prices.