Pulses inflation in double digits since Jan 2015

New Delhi: Prices of pulses have continued to remain at an elevated level of 34.45 percent in March, marking a double-digit inflation in lentils since January 2015, though several other essential kitchen staples have shown moderation in rates.

The rate of price rise in pulses, as per the WPI data released today, worked out to be 34.45 percent while the overall wholesale price-based inflation remained in negative for 17th month in a row at (-)0.85 percent in March.

The inflation in pulses have been recording double digit increase since January 2015 when it was 12.56 percent. Since then inflation touched a high of 58.09 percent in November 2015.

"Pulses have shown upward price pressure continuously... and policymakers should check and address this issue through supply side responses," Assocham said.

ICRA Senior Economist Aditi Nayar said that prices of pulses have hardened in the first half of April. Besides, prices of certain vegetables have risen in the last fortnight in line with seasonal trends during the summer months.

In order to deal with the rising prices of pulses, the government had in October announced host of steps including use of price stabilisation fund and imports to cool prices and create a buffer stock. It had also launched a crack down on hoarders to deal with the price situation.