The country's annual inflation rate, based on the wholesale price index, fell marginally to 9.59% during the last month (April '10) as against 9.9% a month ago.

During April 2009, India's annual rate of inflation stood at 1.31%.

Figures announced by the commerce ministry indicated that prices of food articles increased by 16.87% in April as against 16.65% in March 2010.

The data said that costs of primary articles climbed 13.88% during the last month.

Manufactured items turned costlier by 6.7% in April 2010.

The revised February 2010 annual inflation was 10.06% as compared to 9.89%.

According to administration, inflation is going down after the fresh rabi crop arrived as costs of food items being the major cause behind the growing overall inflation since last year's lows.

For the existing financial, the government economists and the central bank projected an annual inflation of around 5%.

The newest food inflation data showed a small increase after two successive weeks of decline, rising 16.44 percent for the week ended May 1. (With Inputs from Agencies)