Inflation touches all-time low of 4%
New Delhi: Inflation has touched an all-time low in this fiscal: falling below 4 per cent for the week ended 2 August. This is despite the fact that primary articles became costlier, and prices of vegetables spiralling.Continuing its downward spree for the fifth consecutive week, the point-to-point wholesale price index (WPI) inflation plunged to 3.96 per cent, shedding another 0.13 per cent from the previous week’s level of 4.09 per cent, commerce ministry figures suggest.

Inflation was at 3.09 per cent during the same period in 2002-03, indicating that the centre was trying to contain the cost of living to the levels during the previous year. But, in reality, prices soared for commodities like fruits, vegetables, milk, skimmed milk powder, sugar, maida, coconut oil and all kinds of baby food, making a dent on an average household’s budget. WPI rose by 0.3 per cent to 173.4 points during the first week of this month and it was 166.8 points in the previous year.
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Steel policy: Govt seeks investors' view
New Delhi: The steel ministry has circulated the draft of the National Steel Policy to stakeholders to elicit their views, reports say. As per the draft policy, the ministry will act as an interface between financial institutions (FIs) and the industry. As a facilitator, the ministry will provide analysed and sector specific data to help the FIs, which were otherwise shying away from the sector, in taking decisions regarding funding of new steel projects, according to the document.

The information to be provided will include information on demand-supply position, present and future market trends, resource plan and technological roadmap for deregulated industry and prices in both domestic and global market. After the finalisation of the discussions, the document will be placed before an expert committee for final recommendation in a few days, industry sources disclosed.
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