Consumer price inflation down 0.44 per cent in December as food prices dip
18 Jan 2012
A fall in the prices of food item, mostly fruits and vegetables, pulled down the consumer price index (CPI) in December 2011 by 0.44 per cent compared to the previous month's level.
The general index (rural and urban combined) of consumer prices, based on retail prices, stood at 113.9 points in December against 114.4 points in November, as per data released by the Central Statistical Office.
The indices for rural and urban consumers stood at 115.0 and 112.4, respectively, down (-) 0.78 and (-) 0.09, respectively, from the previous month.
The annual inflation rates would be available at the time of release of indices for January 2012.
"This broad based index reflects the changes in the prices of goods and services consumed by the rural and urban population,'' minister of state (independent charge) for statistics and programme implementation, Srikant Jena, said.
The CPI (all-India) for 'food, beverages and tobacco' declined by 1.31 per cent to 112.8 points in December from 114.3 points in the previous month.
The fall was mainly on account of cheaper vegetables, which saw a dip of 15.01 per cent month-on-month to 98.5 points. The fruit index also fell by 3.78 per cent to 122.2 points.
.webp)
