Inflation Seen Sticky, High In Aug-Dec: FM

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><root available-locales="en_US," default-locale="en_US"><static-content language-id="en_US"><![CDATA[<p>Inflation is expected to remain sticky and high between August and December, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a statement, seen by Reuters, on Wednesday.<br><br>Annual inflation had quickened in June to 9.44 per cent, driven by higher prices of manufactured goods and fuel, adding pressure on the central bank to raise rates this month despite signs of slowing growth in Asia's third largest economy.<br><br>Mukherjee said the headline inflation is expected to ease after December and could slow down to 6-7 percent by March 2012.<br><br>(Reuters)</p>