New Delhi, Oct 05: Continuing its rising trend for the fourth consecutive week, inflation rose by 0.37 per cent to 4.72 per cent for the week ended September 20 mainly due to soaring prices of vegetables, fruits, edible oils and some manufactured products. The point-to-point wholesale price index (WPI) inflation rose from previous week's level of 4.35 per cent and the latest figure is almost one per cent higher from the year ago figure of 3.34 per cent, indicating the rising cost of living for the masses.

WPI was up marginally by 0.1 per cent to 175.1 points even as prices of highly volatile fuel and manufactured products' group remained calm for the second and third consecutive week respectively. The index was 167.2 points in the previous year. Inflation was expected to go down by the third quarter of 2003-04 when the full impact of good monsoon would have its effect on the economy and the recent "spasmodic" spurt was not a cause of concern, official sources told a news agency.

The WPI inflation, which had this fiscal touched 4.09 per cent as per provisional figure for the week ended July 26, was, however, corrected by the government to 4.27 per cent, while the WPI was revised up to 173.2 points as against the provisional level of 172.9 points. Costlier food items pushed up primary articles' group index by 0.2 per cent to 181.1 points despite non-food items becoming cheaper and the index was 175.3 points a year ago.

Bureau Report