Inflation at 5.24 pct.

India's wholesale price index rose 5.24 percent in the 12 months to Jan. 3, below the previous week's annual rise of 5.91 percent, government data showed on Thursday.

It was marginally below a median forecast in a Reuters poll of analysts of 5.28 percent.

The annual inflation rate was 4.26 percent during the corresponding week of the previous year.

The wholesale price index is more closely watched than the consumer price index, which is published monthly, because it covers a higher number of products and is released weekly. - Reuters