New Delhi: In line with the expectations of RBI and the Centre, inflation dropped to 5.8 per cent after remaining over 6.0 per cent in the recent period, with declining prices for fruits and vegetables, eggs and some of the edible oils.

The point-to-point Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation fell by 0.32 per cent from the previous week's figure of 6.12 per cent, even as heavy-weighted manufactured items, including food products and textiles, became costlier.

The extent of increase in the general price level came close to 5.29 per cent recorded in the year-ago period.

Both Reserve Bank and the Union Government expected that inflation would taper off to 4-4.5 per cent by the end of this fiscal and notably prices would come down after January 31.

WPI, on the other hand, rose marginally by 0.2 per cent to 178.9 points even as fuel prices remained unchanged for the fourth consecutive week notwithstanding the gyrations in the international market due to the OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries) meeting. The index was 169.1 points in the previous year period.

Government of India had to revise upwards inflation to 5.56 per cent for the week ended December 6 as compared to provisional figure of 5.38 per cent.

The final WPI stood corrected at 176.7 points during the first week of December as against provisional level of 176.4 points.