Inflation rate a tad higher as prices skyrocket
20 Aug 2009
The annual rate of inflation based on the wholesale price index edged up to -1.53 per cent (provisional) for the week ended 8 August 2009 from -1.74 per cent (provisional) for the previous week even as prices of essential goods, especially foodgrains, continued to soar.
The official wholesale price index for 'all commodities' (base: 1993-94 = 100) for the week under review rose 0.1 per cent to 237.4 (provisional) from 237.2 (provisional) for the previous week.
The inflation rate stood at 12.82 per cent during the corresponding week (ended 9 August 2008) of the previous year.
The index for the `primary articles' group increased 0.2 per cent to 262.9 (provisional) from 262.5 (provisional) for the previous week.
Among primary articles, the index for 'food articles' group rose 0.2 per cent to 262.0 (provisional) from 261.4 (provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of bajra and urad (2 per cent each) and condiments and spices, arhar and fruits and vegetables (1 per cent each). However, the prices of jowar (-4 per cent), barley (-2 per cent) and moong (-1 per cent) declined.
The index for the 'non-food articles' group declined 0.1 per cent to 241.4 (provisional) from 241.6 (provisional) for the previous week due to lower prices of raw silk (-2 per cent). However, the prices of raw rubber (2 per cent) moved up.