June WPI fuel inflation up 40.38 yy vs 40.62 in May
June WPI food inflation up 12.41 yy vs 10.89 in May
Near 7 rupee depreciation against dollar makes imports costlier
Economists see central bank raising key rate in August

NEW DELHI, July 14 Reuters India39;s annual wholesale pricebased inflation kept above 15 in June, government data showed on Thursday, but the slight easing from the prior month39;s threedecade high of 15.88 strengthens prospects for more rate hikes next month by the central bank.

Economists say inflation, driven by higher global crude oil and domestic prices, has shown little sign of cooling, despite a rise of 90 basis points in the benchmark rate of the Reserve Bank of India RBI over the last two months and export curbs.

Wholesale prices, akin to producer prices, eased slightly to 15.18, but stayed in double digits for a 15th straight month, the data showed.

June39;s figure was lower than a forecast of 15.50 in a Reuters poll of analysts, and compared to 12.07 in June 2021.

A depreciation of nearly 7 this year in the rupee currency against the dollar has pushed up prices of imported food and energy products for companies as well as consumers.

The high rate was mainly fuelled by rising prices of crude petroleum and natural gas, food items, basic metals and chemical products, the commerce ministry said in a statement.

On Tuesday, India reported annual consumer inflation stayed above 7 in June and beyond the central bank39;s tolerance band for…