NEW DELHI, Jan 15 Reuters India39;s wholesale price index in December rose 0.73 yearonyear to a ninemonth high, mainly on the back of higher food prices, government data showed on Monday.

The rise in the index was slower than the 0.9 expected by economists polled by Reuters, but quickened from 0.26 in November.

In December, food prices rose 5.39 yearonyear compared with a rise of 4.69 in November, while manufactured product prices fell 0.71 against a 0.64 fall the previous month.

Fuel and power prices fell 2.41 from a year earlier, compared with a 4.61 drop in November. Prices of primary articles were up 5.78 versus a rise of 4.76 a month earlier.

Last week, government data showed the country39;s annual retail inflation rose at the fastest pace in four months in December, driven by a rise in prices of some food items.

Reporting by Shivangi Acharya; Editing by Tom Hogue and Kim Coghill

Source Reuters