India's wholesale price index rose 0.53 percent on the year in March, after increasing 0.20 percent in February. WPI inflation has now been low but positive for five consecutive months after seven consecutive months of deflation previously. Consumer price data published last week showed steady headline inflation moderated from 5.09 percent in February to 4.91 percent in March, closer to the mid-point of the Reserve Bank of India's target range of two percent to six percent.

The bigger year-over-year increase in wholesale prices in March was broad-based across major categories. Food prices, which account for around 15 percent of the index, rose 4.65 percent on the year after increasing 4.09 percent previously, manufacturing prices, around 64 percent of the index, fell 0.85 percent on the year after a previous decline of 1.27 percent, and fuel prices, around 13 percent of the index, fell 0.77 percent after dropping 1.59 percent previously.

Wholesale prices are expected to come in at a year-over-year 0.7 percent in March versus 0.2 percent in February which was the fourth straight result just above the zero line.

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) covers primary articles, manufactured products and fuel and power. The data are not seasonally adjusted and the main focus in on the annual change in the index. This can be seen as an indicator of pipeline price pressures and is a loose leading indicator of consumer price inflation as targeted by the RBI.

The Wholesale Price Index is closely followed as an indicator of inflation by the Reserve Bank of India, as well as many Indian corporations and banks.

Inflation is an increase in the overall prices of goods and services. The relationship between inflation and interest rates is the key to understanding how indicators such as the WPI influence the markets - and your investments.

Inflation (along with various risks) basically explains how interest rates are set on everything from your mortgage and auto loans to Treasury bills, notes and bonds. As the rate of inflation changes and as expectations on inflation change, the markets adjust interest rates. The effect ripples across stocks, bonds, commodities, and your portfolio, often in a dramatic fashion.

By tracking inflation, whether high or low, rising or falling, investors can anticipate how different types of investments will perform. Over the long run, the bond market will rally (fall) when increases in the WPI are small (large). The equity market rallies with the bond market because low inflation promises low interest rates and is good for profits.