Inflation rate remains static at 8.16 pc

Inflation rate remains static at 8.16 pc
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, Jan 21: Annual inflation rate stood firmat 8.16 per cent in the week ended January six, despite rise in prices of manufactured products.

The point-to-point inflation rate based on the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for all commodities (Base Year: 1993-94=100) was static during the week but significantly higher compared to 3.55 per cent a year ago. The WPI, however, again rose by 0.1 per cent to 157.8 from the previous week’s figure of 157.7 points.

The final WPI for all commodities at 158.1 was lower than provisional level of 158.2 for week ended November 11. The final inflation rate for the second week of November was 7.48 per cent which was lower than the provisional level of 7.55 per cent. Although inflation rate remained unchanged, the All Indian Consumer Price Index for Urban Non-Manual Employees fell by one point to 375 during December on account of a sharp fall in vegetable prices.

Manufactured products’ prices rose by 0.1 per cent, while primary articles and fuel prices witnessed no change as compared to the previous week’s levels. The index for Primary Articles remained unchanged at the pevious week’s level of 161.1, despite a marginal fall in the price of food articles. However, the index was only 155.3 a year ago.

Food Articles’ group index fell marginally by 0.1 percent to 168.4 from 168.6 due to cheaper fruits and vegetables (three per cent), bajra and urad (two per cent each), maize and moong (one per cent each). However, prices escalated in the case of fish-marine (ten per cent), mutton (five per cent), beef and buffalo meat (three per cent), barley and eggs (two per cent each), jowar, masur, poultry chicken and pork (one per cent each).

The index for Non-Food Articles’ group, was up by 0.3 percent at 146.2 as against previous week’s figure of 145.8 on account of costlier sunflower (25 per cent), kardi seed (two per cent) and coir fibre and castor seed (one per cent each). But prices declined for copra (seven per cent), skins raw(three per cent), raw cotton, raw silk and groundnut seed (one per cent each).