Consumer price inflation rises to 8.83 per cent in February

Inflation rate based on the consumer price index (CPI) for February 2012 rose to 8.83 per cent, from 7.65 per cent in January, provisional figures released by the Central Statistical Office (CSO) showed. The corresponding inflation rates for rural and urban areas stood at 8.36 per cent and 9.45 per cent, respectively, in February 2012, against 7.28 per cent and 8.25 per cent, respectively, in January.

The all-India (provisional) consumer price indices – for general, rural and urban groups – for February 2012 stood at 115.4, 113.5 and 114.6, respectively.

Provisional annual inflation rates in February 2012 for rural, urban and combined in for 'food and beverages' are 6.33 per cent, 7.17 per cent and 6.62 per cent, respectively.

The increase in February inflation has been due, mainly to higher prices of protein-based items and edible oil products.

Vegetable prices, however, saw a decline of 4.73 per cent year-on-year (over the February 2011 level), though there was a 12.76 per cent rise in inflation in the oil and fat category.

During the month, the prices of eggs, meat and fish went up by 10.62 per cent. Milk and its products, too, turned costlier by 15.76 per cent, year-on-year.