Wholesale price inflation in India, based on the index of wholesale prices, stood at 4.17 per cent (provisional) for February 2021 compared to 2.26 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year, preliminary data released by the commerce ministry showed.
Inflation for the primary articles group, which has a weight of 22.62 per cent in the wholesale price index, increased by 1.04 per cent in February as the prices of minerals, crude petroleum and natural gas and food articles increased in by 0.51 per cent in February 2021 compared to January 2021. Prices of non-food articles, on the other hand, declined by 0.51 per cent during the month.
Inflation rate for the fuel and power group (weight of 13.15 per cent in WPI) increased by 4.51 per cent in February 2021 as prices of mineral oils increased in February 2021. Prices of electricity, however, declined by 0.43 per cent in February 2021. Prices of coal remained unchanged.
Inflation rate for the manufactured products group (weight of 64.23 per cent) increased by 0.64 per cent in February 2021 as 17 out of the 22 manufactured products groups have witnessed increase in prices.
Inflation rate based on the food index (weight of 24.38 per cent) consisting of 'food articles' from the primary articles group and 'food products' from the manufactured products group increased by 3.31 per cent in February 2021 against a decline of 0.26 per cent in January.
The final inflation rate for December 2020, based on the revised wholesale price index for 'all commodities' (Base: 2011-12=100) stood at 1.95 per cent.