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Inflation at 4.59 pc; but averages 5.72 pc in Q1
New Delhi, Aug 03: Inflation again shed 0.06 per cent to touch yet another year`s low of 4.59 per cent for the week ended July 19 due to cheaper mass consumption primary items, including fruits and vegetables, even as the quarterly average remained close to six per cent.
New Delhi, Aug 03: Inflation again shed 0.06 per cent to touch yet another year's low of 4.59 per cent for the week ended July 19 due to cheaper mass consumption primary items, including fruits and vegetables, even as the quarterly average remained close to six per cent.
The point-to-point wholesale price index (WPI) inflation fell from the previous week's figure of 4.65 per cent, even as the heavy-weighted manufactured products and high linkage fuel products became costlier. The index was 2.86 per cent in the previous year period, meaning that cost of living for an average household has since increased 1.5 times.
Though WPI inflation had fallen from 6.17 per cent in April to below five per cent mark in the latest reported week, the average price rise in the wholesale market works out to a high of 5.72 per cent during the first quarter of this fiscal.
The WPI, however, stood firm at the previous week's level of 173.3 points; the index was 165.7 a year ago. Government revised the WPI to 173.2 points for the week ended may 24 as compared to the provisional level of 172.1 and the final inflation to 6.32 per cent as against the provisional figure of 5.65 per cent.
However, the inflation at retail level had been rising in the past one year considering the surge in consumer price index for industrial workers (CPI-IW), which form the basis for fixation of dearness allowance.
The CPI-IW rose by three points during June 2003 to 497 while the 12-monthly moving average increased to 487.33 during the month, entitling the government employees to 4.0 per cent additional dearness allowance from July 1, 2003.
In the WPI basket, primary articles' group index fell perceptibly by 0.6 per cent to 180 points due to a sharp fall in prices of food products; the index was 173 points in the year ago period.
Food articles' group index fell by one per cent to 179.2 points, while the index for non-food articles' group increased by 0.4 per cent to 186.8 points.
Fuel, power, light and lubricants' group index increased marginally to 247.4 points; the index was 238.4 points in the previous year period.
The index for manufactured products' group rose by 0.3 per cent to 154.5 points. The index was 146.9 points in the year-ago period.
Food products' group index shot up over one per cent to 166.9 points. The index for textiles' group was up by 0.6 per cent to 126.3 points.
Non-metallic mineral products' group index fell by 0.1 per cent to 146.7 points due to two per cent dip in the price of ceramic tiles.
The index for basic metals, alloys and metal products' group was down 0.1 per cent to 158.6 points owing to five per cent fall in the price of aluminium foils, while there was one per cent price hike in forging and aluminum rolled products.
Machinery and machine tools' group declined by 0.1 per cent to 133.2 points owing to 11 per cent fall in the price of air-conditioners and three per cent in dry cells. Bureau Report
Though WPI inflation had fallen from 6.17 per cent in April to below five per cent mark in the latest reported week, the average price rise in the wholesale market works out to a high of 5.72 per cent during the first quarter of this fiscal.
The WPI, however, stood firm at the previous week's level of 173.3 points; the index was 165.7 a year ago. Government revised the WPI to 173.2 points for the week ended may 24 as compared to the provisional level of 172.1 and the final inflation to 6.32 per cent as against the provisional figure of 5.65 per cent.
However, the inflation at retail level had been rising in the past one year considering the surge in consumer price index for industrial workers (CPI-IW), which form the basis for fixation of dearness allowance.
The CPI-IW rose by three points during June 2003 to 497 while the 12-monthly moving average increased to 487.33 during the month, entitling the government employees to 4.0 per cent additional dearness allowance from July 1, 2003.
In the WPI basket, primary articles' group index fell perceptibly by 0.6 per cent to 180 points due to a sharp fall in prices of food products; the index was 173 points in the year ago period.
Food articles' group index fell by one per cent to 179.2 points, while the index for non-food articles' group increased by 0.4 per cent to 186.8 points.
Fuel, power, light and lubricants' group index increased marginally to 247.4 points; the index was 238.4 points in the previous year period.
The index for manufactured products' group rose by 0.3 per cent to 154.5 points. The index was 146.9 points in the year-ago period.
Food products' group index shot up over one per cent to 166.9 points. The index for textiles' group was up by 0.6 per cent to 126.3 points.
Non-metallic mineral products' group index fell by 0.1 per cent to 146.7 points due to two per cent dip in the price of ceramic tiles.
The index for basic metals, alloys and metal products' group was down 0.1 per cent to 158.6 points owing to five per cent fall in the price of aluminium foils, while there was one per cent price hike in forging and aluminum rolled products.
Machinery and machine tools' group declined by 0.1 per cent to 133.2 points owing to 11 per cent fall in the price of air-conditioners and three per cent in dry cells. Bureau Report