Inflation Up To 6.61 Per Cent

The official wholesale price index for all commodities (base 1981-82) recorded a marginal rise of 0.1 per cent to 319.4 in the week to November 16 as against 319.1 in the previous week. This is for fourth successive week that WPI has been on the rise.

In the corresponding week (to November 18) last year, it was 8.32 per cent (final).

The rise in the inflation has been due to the hike in prices of milk, copra, fodder, coation drill, laundry soap, synthetic detergents and tooth powder.

Inflation has maintained a single digit streak for 86 consecutive weeks since April 199,5 surpassing the earlier record of 1993 when it remained in single digits for 52 weeks. It has stayed above the six per cent-mark for the 11th successive week since September 7.

 

It dropped below the five per cent-mark for the first time this year when on May 25 it touched 4.14 per cent, the lowest in the recent years.

After fluctuating for several months, it was static at 4.22 per cent in the weeks to June 22 and 29.

It rose to 4.40 per cent on July 6. On July 13, it touched 5.17 per cent after keeping below the five per cent-mark for 23 consecutive weeks.

For the first time in 37 weeks, it crossed the six per cent barrier at 6.02 per cent on September 7.

The final wholesale price index for all commodities (base 1981-82) was 317.3 in the week ended September 21 as against the provisional index of 317.

The inflation rate based on the final index was 6.62 per cent in contrast to 6.52 per cent based on the provisional index.

With barley and milk becoming dearer by three per cent each, eggs by two per cent and wheat, jowar, bajra, ragi, moong, masur, fruits, vegetables and mutton one per cent, the index for food articles in the primary articles group rose by 0.7 per cent to 386.4 from 383.7.

However, urad prices fell three per cent and fish was down by one per cent. The index for non-food articles went down 0.4 per cent to 332.4 from 333.7.