Inflation was last above this level at 7.87 per cent on September 11, 2004 as per provisional figures and 7.86 per cent for the week ended September 18, 2004, according to final figures.

The WPI based index inflation stood at 5.74 per cent in the corresponding week a year ago.

During the week, prices of food articles like fruits and vegetables, spices, coffee, masoor rose, compounding worries of the government and RBI amid a slowdown in industrial growth.

Among food articles, fruits and vegetables went up by 3 per cent, coffee 6 per cent, maize 4 per cent, spices and masoor by 1 per cent each. Even in manufactured category, prices of food articles like atta, coconut oil and khandsari went up.

However, prices of cement, iron and steel declined, giving some respite to the government.