Wholesale price inflation falls to 2.60 in September

The annual rate of inflation based on the wholesale price index (WPI) stood at 2.60 per cent in September 2017 against 3.24 per cent in the previous month and 1.36 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year.

Build up of inflation rate in the financial year so far was 0.97 per cent compared to a build-up rate of 3.44 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous year, provisional estimates released today showed

Inflation rate for the primary articles group, which has a weight of 22.62 per cent in the wholesale price index, declined by 3 per cent in September 2017.

Among primary articles, inflation rate for the 'food articles' group declined by 4 per cent due to lower price of fruits and vegetables, betel leaves, ragi, bajra, maize,tea, pork andpoultry chicken. However, the price of gram, arhar, masur, urad and fish (fresh water), eggs, jowar, barley, condiments and spices and peas/chawali moved up.

Inflation rate for the 'non-food articles' group declined by 0.2 per cent due to lower prices of floriculture,  groundnut seed, raw cotton and linseed. However, the prices of copra (coconut), raw silk, sunflower and guar seed, raw jute, gingelly seed and raw rubber, raw wool and soyabean and castor seed, skins (raw), rape and mustard seed, mesta, coir fibre and safflower (kardi seed) moved up.

Inflation rate for the 'minerals' group rose 1.1 per cent due to higher prices of copper concentrate, manganese ore and limestone. However, the price of chromite, iron ore, zinc concentrate and phosphorite and lead concentrate declined.

Inflation rate for the `fuels and power' group (weight of 13.15 per cent in WPI)  rose 1.7 per cent.

Inflation rate for the 'mineral oils' group rose 3.3 per cent due to higher prices of LPG, naphtha, ATF, petrol, furnace oil, kerosene and HSD and bitumen.  However, the price of petroleum coke declined.

MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS (Weight 64.23%)

The index for this major group rose by 0.4 percent to

MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS (Weight 64.23%)

The index for the `manufactured products' group, which has a weight of 64.23 per cent in WPI rose 0.4 per cent during September 2017.

Among manufactured products, inflation rate for the 'manufacture of food products' group rose 0.7 per cent due to higher prices of copra oil, processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans and molluscs and products thereof and gram powder (besan), basmati rice, salt, bagasse, rice bran oil, manufacture of health supplements, processed tea, powder milk, gur and ghee and rice, non-basmati, castor oil, ice cream, soyabean oil, butter, palm oil, cotton seed oil, maida, sunflower oil, vanaspati and rice products. However, the pricee of other meats, preserved/processed and honey, molasses and chicken/duck, dressed - fresh/frozen, groundnut oil, buffalo meat, fresh/frozen and manufacture of cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectioneryand instant coffee, manufacture of prepared animal feeds, processing & preserving of fruit & vegetables, wheat bran, mustard oil, manufacture of macaroni, noodles, couscous and similar farinaceous products declined.

Inflation rate for the 'manufacture of beverages' group rose by 0.8 per cent due to higher prices of bottled mineral water and aerated drinks/soft drinks (incl. soft drink concentrates) and country liquor, beer and wine.

Inflation rate for 'manufacture of tobacco products' group rose 2.2 per cent due to higher prices of cigarette and other tobacco products. However, the price of biri declined.

Inflation rate for the 'manufacture of textiles' group rose 0.6 per cent due to higher prices of texturised and twisted yarnand weaving and finishing of textiles, manufacture of cordage, rope, twine and netting and cotton yarn. However, the prices of viscose yarn and manufacture of knitted and crocheted fabrics declined.

Inflation rate for 'manufacture of wearing apparel' group rose 0.1 per cent due to higher prices of trouser/pants made of cotton and/or mad-made fibre. However, the prices of manufacture of knitted and crocheted apparel declined.

Inflation rate for 'manufacture of leather and related products' group declined 1.4 per cent due to lower prices of chrome tanned leather and leather shoe. However, the price of belt and other articles of leather, vegetable tanned leather and harness, saddles and other related items, canvas shoes and travel goods, handbags, office bags, etc moved up.

Inflation rate for 'manufacture of wood and wood products and cork ' group rose 0.2 per cent due to higher prices of wooden block - compressed or not and plywood block boards and wooden box/crate. However, the prices of timber/wooden plank, sawn/resawn and wood cutting, processed/sized declined.

Inflation rate for 'manufacture of paper and paper products' group rose 0.7 per cent due to higher prices of tissue paper, corrugated sheet box, paper bag (including craft paper bag), card board box, hard board and poster paper and paper for printing and writing and newsprint. However, the price of corrugated paper board, duplex paper, laminated plastic sheet, paper carton/box and map litho paper declined.

Inflation rate for 'printing and reproduction of recorded media' group rose 0.2 per cent due to higher prices of printed labels/posters/calendars, hologram and newspaper. However, the price of printed form and schedule, journal/periodical and sticker plastic declined.

Inflation rate for 'manufacture of chemicals and chemical products' group rose 0.1 per cent due to higher price of mono ethyl glycol, ammonia gas, plasticiser, aniline (including PNA, ONA, OCPNA), carbon black, gelatine, nitric acid, ethylene oxide and phthalic anhydride, powder coating material, epoxy, liquid, polyester film(metalized), sodium silicate, organic surface active agent and adhesive tape (non-medicinal) and creams ad lotions for external application, polyethylene, ammonium sulphate, mixed fertilizer, caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), soda ash/washing soda, alcohols, polystyrene, expandable, foundry chemical, polyester chips or polyethylene terepthalate (pet) chips, polyester fibre fabric, camphor, aromatic chemicals and  printing ink. However, the price of fungicide, liquid, mosquito coil, sulphuric acid, oleoresin, toilet soap and perfume/scent, alkyl benzene, fatty acid, agro chemical formulation, ammonia liquid, acetic acid and its derivatives and superphospate/phosphatic fertilizer, others and ammonium phosphate, dye stuff/dyes incl. dye intermediates and pigments/colours, rubber chemicals, tooth paste/tooth powder, shampoo, other inorganic chemicals, detergent cake, washing soap cake/bar/powder, xlpe compound, additive, catalysts, amine, organic solvent and organic chemicals declined.

Inflation rate for 'manufacture of pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemicals and botanical products' group rose 0.5 per cent due to higher prices of vaccine for hepatitis-b, vials/ampoule, glass, empty or filled, sulpha drugs, anti-malarial drugs, anti allergic drugs, plastic capsules, simvastatin and antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory formulations (4% each) and antibiotics and preparations thereof. However, the prices of anti cancer drugs, antioxidants, steroids and hormonal preparations (including anti-fungal preparations) and anti-retroviral drugs for HIV treatment and ayurvedic medicaments, digestive enzymes and antacids and cotton wool (medicinal) declined.

Inflation rate for 'manufacture of rubber and plastics products' group declined 0.4 per cent due to lower prices of PVC fittings and other accessories, condoms, V-belt, tooth brush, rubber moulded goods, solid rubber tyres/wheels, plastic furniture, plastic components and medium and heavy commercial vehicle tyres.  However, the price of rubberised dipped fabric, rubber cloth/sheet, acrylic/plastic sheet and thermocol, processed rubber, 2/3 wheeler tyre, plastic bottle and plastic tank and plastic box/container, 2/3 wheeler rubber tube, conveyer belt (fibre based), polyester film (non-metalized), plastic button, rubber tread, rubber tubes- not for tyres, tractor tyre, plastic tube (flexible/non-flexible) and plastic film moved up.

Inflation rate for 'manufacture of basic metals' group rose 2.7 per cent due to higher price of GP/GC sheet, pig iron, MS pencil ingots, cold rolled (CR) coils and sheets, including narrow strip, hot rolled (HR) coils and sheets, including narrow strip and other ferro alloys, mild steel (MS) blooms and copper shapes-bars/rods/plates/strips, sponge iron/direct reduced iron (DRI), silicomanganese, ferrochrome, stainless steel pencil ingots/billets/slabs, MS castings, copper metal/copper rings, stainless steel coils, strips and sheets, ferrosilicon and zinc metal/zinc blocks, aluminium disk and circles, aluminium shapes-bars/rods/flats, stainless steel tubes, angles, channels, sections, steel (coated/not), MS wire rods, brass metal/sheet/coils and aluminium ingot and alloy steel wire rods, galvanized iron pipes, aluminium metal, aluminium powder, rails, lead ingots, bars, blocks, plates and steel forgings-rough. However, the price of aluminium alloys and alloy steel castings declined.