Food inflation declined by 0.26 percentage point to 16.23 per cent for the week ended May 15 on account of a fall in prices of masur, fruits and vegetables. Inflation was 16.49 per cent in the previous week. The fall was mainly owing to a 4 per cent slide in masur prices, 2 per cent fall in prices of fruits and vegetable each, and 0.20 per decline in prices of cereals and pulses over the week. Non-food articles also saw a decline in prices. Cotton seed prices fell 2 per cent and raw rubber and mustard seed by 1 per cent each. However, the prices of tea rose by 9 per cent, that of mutton by 5 per cent, and urad and spices by 1 per cent each.