The rupee today fell by 22 paise to trade at a fresh nine-month low of 56.18 against the US dollar in early trade on the Interbank Foreign Exchange due to month-end demand for the US currency from importers and banks. Appreciation of the American currency against major currencies overseas on robust economic data and a weak opening in the domestic equity market also put pressure on the rupee .The rupee had slumped by 39 paise to end at a nearly nine-month low of 55.96 a dollar in yesterday's trade.