MUMBAI, Feb 26 Reuters Food is likely to have a smaller weighting in India39;s consumer price index in future, a government official said on Monday, a move that could make consumer inflation less volatile after a major household survey showed lower spending on food.

Food39;s weighting in the consumer price index could be lowered in the next revision of the basket of goods due to be completed by next year, the official who declined to be identified told Reuters.

The government39;s statistics ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The government39;s first household consumption survey in over a decade, released at the weekend, showed that food39;s share of the rural consumption basket fell below 50 for the first time to 46 and to 39 for urban consumers.

Average monthly spending by rural consumers rose to 3,773 rupees 45.54 a month per person for the 12 months through July 2023, from 1,430 rupees in the previous survey in 20112012. Spending by urban consumers rose to 6,459 rupees from 2,630 rupees, the survey showed.

The official did not indicate what food39;s revised weighting in the CPI basket might be.

Madhavi Arora, lead economist at brokerage Emkay Global, said the food weighting could be reduced to 4041 from nearly 46 now, adding this could reduce volatility in inflation.

Retail inflation in India has remained above the central bank39;s target of 4 due to sharp swings in food prices. That has prevented a cut in interest rates, even though…