Food inflation dropped to its the lowest level in 18 months, at 7.7 per cent, for the week ended April 30, due to a fall in the price of pulses and vegetables. The rate of price rise in food items, as calculated on the basis of the wholesale price index, had stood at 8.53 per cent in the previous week, and 21.46 per cent in the corresponding period last year. During the week under review, prices of pulses declined by over 9 per cent, year-on-year, while vegetables became cheaper by 3.64 per cent. Potato prices fell 3.58 per cent. However, cereals became dearer by 4.54 per cent, while fruits prices rose by over 35 per cent. Milk was also costlier by 4.3 per cent, and eggs, meat and fish were up 4.62 per cent.