Despite a sharp over four per cent fall in the price of vegetables and near two per cent in fruits, inflation remained unchanged at the previous week's level of 1.56 per cent for the week ended may four. The point-to-point price change as measured by Wholesale Price Index (WPI) was contained, even as there was a drastic over 14 per cent hike in the price of other food articles. The index was near six per cent in the previous year.
The WPI, however, was marginally up by 0.1 per cent to 162.6 in the first week of May as compared to 162.5 in the previous month and 160.1 a year ago.
Price hike was more visible for tea, fish-inland, fish-marine, raw wool, electrical equipment and systems, all kinds of bran, gingelly oil, sunflower oil, groundnut oil, newspaper and building bricks. The final WPI stood higher at 161.9 for the week ended March nine, as compared to the provisional level of 161.5, while the final inflation was higher by 0.25 per cent at 1.76 per cent as against the provisional level.
The consumer price index for urban non-manual employees rose by one point to 396 in april mainly due to rise in the price of vegetables, beverages and tobacco.
Manufactured products became costlier by 0.1 per cent, while primary articles and fuels' prices remained firm at the previous week's figure. Bureau Report