It had been hovering around five per cent for the fourth week in succession since February 20 when it breached the five per cent mark after a gap of six weeks. It was for second time in four weeks that it had touched 5.14 per cent. The earlier occasion was on February 20 last when it stood at 5.14 per cent. The recent 0.09 per cent slump in the inflation rate was attributed to the drop in the prices of arhar, masur, eggs, rice bran oil, linseed oil and enameled copper wires. But jowar, raw jute, jam, jellies, marmalades, maize starch and oxygen became costlier during the week under review. Last week's dip in the inflation was despite the hike in high speed diesel prices.

Theinflation rate had been in single digit for 207 weeks at a stretch, erasing the old record of 1993 when it was single digit for continuous 52 weeks.