New Delhi, March 15 -- Retail inflation fell to a seven-month low in February on the back of deflation in vegetables but price pinch remained in many items. Meanwhile, employees could be left disappointed on both salary hikes and promotions in FY25 as companies grapple with heightened economic uncertainty.

India's retail inflation eased to a seven-month low of 3.61% in February, driven by a fall in food prices. Vegetables saw 1.07% deflation in February, reflecting the usual seasonal price drop with new crop arrivals. However, consumers may still feel pressure from high inflation in several areas. A Mint analysis shows that despite the headline inflation easing, over one-fifth of the items still recorded inflation above 6%, with gold amo...