The fall in inflation rate despite a 0.4 per cent increase in wholesale price index (WPI) for all commodities is because the increase in the index was lower than corresponding increase for the same week last year. In the corresponding week last year, inflation had shot up to 4.29 per cent from 3.47 per cent in the previous week.

During the current week, reflecting the sharp increase in the prices of onions, index of vegetables shot up by 11.4 per cent from last week. The rate of inflation, calculated on a point-to-point basis, stood at 8.22 per cent (provisional) compared to 8.69 per cent (P) for the previous week. The index for all commodities (Base: 1981-82=100) for the week registered a 0.4 per cent increase to 357.9 (P) compared to 356.6 (P) in the previous week.