Food inflation eases to 11.81%

Food inflation moderated, but still hovered around at an elevated level of 11.81 per cent for the week ended October 29. But, it continues to face price pressures from tomatoes, pulses and milk and leaving unchanged the miseries of the common man.

Food inflation remained in double digits almost for the entire October. Last week, it was at 12.21 per cent.

The trend of a rising rate of price rise for tomato further continued, as the inflation for the essential item went up as high as 101.03 per cent on top of 88.06 per cent in the previous week.

Analysts attribute the price pressures on tomatoes to late heavy rainfall that had harmed the standing crops, particularly in Himachal Pradesh. The overall decline was supported by the marginal fall in inflation numbers for other vegetables, cereals and high-protein items like eggs, fish and meat.

However, pulses showed an upward trend as the year-on-year inflation for pulses went up to 13.27 per cent from 11.65 in the previous week. Inflation in milk and fruit also moved up.

Inflation in fuel and power remained stagnant. As for the recent increase in petrol prices in the previous week, its reflection on prices will be revealed in the near future.

The other primary articles (those found in the raw form) like fibres, minerals and oil seeds also showed a marginal fall in inflation.

Meanwhile, inflation for non-food primary articles for the week declined to 6.41 per cent from 6.43 per cent in the previous week.