Page 6 - Food Inflation

Wholesale inflation eases to 0.2% in Feb, food inflation rises marginally

The wholesale price index (WPI)-based inflation eased in January to 0.2 per cent from 0.27 per cent in the preceding month. The WPI inflation was in the negative zone from April to October and had turned positive in November at 0.26 per cent. "The annual rate of inflation based on all India Wholesale Price Index (WPI) number is 0.20 per cent (provisional) for the month of February, 2024 (over February, 2023)," the commerce and industry ministry said in a statement on Wednesday. Food inflation moved up marginally to 6.95 per cent in February from 6.85 per cent in January, data showed. Inflation in vegetables was 19.78 per cent, up from 19.71 in January. The WPI inflation in pulses was at 18.48 per cent in February compared to 16.06 in January.

Govt to take all measures to contain prices of essential food items: Goyal

The Centre will pull all stops to ensure prices of essential food items from onion to tomatoes to pulses do not spike particularly during the elections, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said as he cited the Modi government's track record of controlling rates within days of any temporary hike. In an interview with PTI, Goyal, who is heading the food and consumer affairs ministry, asserted that the Modi government would continue to take measures to ensure that there is no stress on the household budget of "our Nari-Shakti". Replying to a query regarding the government's strategy to ensure that there are no spikes in prices of food items when the general election kicks in, the minister said, "We are going to be on top of it. And I can assure the people of India that this government cares for the women of India." He highlighted that the government has spent in the last few years about Rs 28,000 crore to the price stabilisation fund to support the effort to fight against food inflation. "We

Govt to conduct another household survey before changing CPI: Report

The findings could lead to a decrease in the weighting of food in the CPI, which is used by the central bank to frame monetary policy

Moderation in food prices cools WPI to 3 month low of 0.27% in Jan

This is the third consecutive month that the wholesale inflation rate had remained in the positive territory after it had recorded deflation for the major part of the financial year 2024

Wholesale inflation eases to 0.27% in January, food inflation at 3.79%

WPI inflation January: The highest fall in inflation was witnessed in manufactured products followed by fuel & power

January retail inflation eases to 5.1%; December IIP growth at 3.8%

Food and beverage recorded an inflation of 8.3 per cent in January 2024, compared to 8.70 per cent the previous month

Vegetarian thali costlier in last one year, non-veg thali cheaper: CRISIL

The rise in the cost of a veg thali signals that the food inflation inched up in January as compared to January 2023

Retail inflation for farm workers rose to 7.7% in December, shows data

Retail inflation for farm workers and rural labourers increased marginally to 7.71 per cent and 7.46 per cent in December compared to 7.37 per cent and 7.13 per cent, respectively, in November due to higher prices of certain food items. Food inflation stood at 9.95 per cent and 9.80 per cent in December 2023, compared to 9.38 per cent and 9.14 per cent, respectively, in November 2023. Food inflation for farm workers and rural labourers was 5.89 per cent and 5.76 per cent, respectively, in December 2022, a labour ministry statement said. According to the statement, point to point rate of inflation based on the CPI-AL (Consumer Price Index-Agricultural Labourers) and CPI-RL (rural labourers) stood at 7.71 per cent and 7.46 per cent in December 2023 compared to 7.37 per cent and 7.13 per cent, respectively, in November 2023. It was 6.38 per cent and 6.60 per cent for farm workers and rural labourers, respectively, during December 2022. The All-India Consumer Price Index Number for ..

Red Sea unrest disrupting world's fragile food supply, inflation

If disruptions worsen, they could stall the slump in food-commodity costs that had started to filter through to cheaper grocery bills

Retail inflation at four-month-high of 5.69% in December, Nov IIP at 2.4%

Retail inflation: The jump in inflation was due to a rise in food prices as food inflation came in at 9.53 per cent in December

Retail inflation likely picked up to 5.87% in December on rising food costs

Food prices, which account for about half of the inflation basket, rose in November and remained elevated last month, largely led by vegetable prices and household staples

Fall in prices of onion, tomato pushed cost of veg thali down 3% in Dec

On a year-on-year basis, however, the cost of veg thali continues to be higher than in December 2022

Retail inflation for industrial workers up marginally at 4.98% in Nov: Govt

Retail inflation for industrial workers increased marginally to 4.98 per cent in November compared to 4.45 per cent in October this year, mainly due to higher prices of certain food items. Food inflation stood at 7.95 per cent against 6.27 per cent in the previous month (October 2023) and 4.30 per cent during the corresponding month (November 2022) a year ago, a labour ministry statement said. According to the statement, year-on-year inflation for the month stood at 4.98 per cent in November compared to 4.45 per cent for the previous month (October 2023) and 5.41 per cent during the corresponding month (November 2022) a year before. The All-India CPI-IW (Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers) for November 2023 increased by 0.7 points and stood at 139.1 points. The CPI-IW was 138.4 points in October 2023. On one-month percentage change, it increased by 0.51 per cent with respect to the previous month, whereas it remained stationary between the corresponding month a year ago,

HUL changes distributor margin structure, increases variable components

Cuts fixed margins and increases variable margins for Bharat ke Shehar

Centre extends import duty exemption on tur, urad dal to March 2025

Prices of pulses have seen an inflation of 20 per cent in November. Recently, the Centre had also extended the import duty exemption for masur dal by one year to March 2025

Govt hopeful of 'bountiful harvest' amid food inflation headwinds

With India's farm sector remaining resilient to erratic weather conditions, the government is hopeful of having bountiful food grain production even as it tries hard to keep a lid on food inflation ahead of general elections in 2024. From floods to droughts, extreme weather events this year have not only raised fears over foodgrain production but also created an artificial supply scare that forced the government to take a slew of pre-emptive measures, including export curbs on certain commodities. Besides, the government subsidised the sale of a few commodities to improve domestic supply and arrest the sharp spikes in retail prices of wheat, rice, edible oils, pulses, tomato, and onion. While the efforts to control food prices are still on, the government is closely watching the prospects of rabi (winter) crops, especially wheat and pulses, which are sown now and will be ready for harvest closer to 2024 general elections in April-May. Food inflation remained at an elevated level ..

Consumers find relief from boiling oil prices in 2023 even after CPI rises

According to data by Bizom, prices of edible oils ranged from a fall of 13.3 per cent to 30.2 per cent in November this year compared to last year

Inflation to ease to 4.6% in the first three quarters of 2024-25: RBI

The RBI bulletin released on Wednesday said that global growth continues to remain fragile and may slow down further in 2024

Rice inflation: FCI chief appeals traders to buy grain under OMSS

Expressing concern over rice inflation, FCI chief Ashok K Meena on Friday asserted that the PDS rice is of "extremely" good quality and urged traders to buy the grain under the Open Market Sale Scheme (OMSS) to boost domestic availability and contain price rise. To encourage more participation of rice traders and processors under the OMSS, the Food Corporation of India (FCI) on Friday increased the bid quantity to 2,000 tonnes per bidder from 1,000 tonnes and the minimum bid quantity was reduced to 1 tonne from 10 tonnes, he said. The positive response received for wheat sales under the OMSS has helped keep wheat and atta prices under check. In the case of rice, the offtake of grain has not been much, so far, under the scheme, he added. Briefing media, FCI Chairman and Managing Director Meena said, "Rice inflation data is slightly a concern. It is at 13 per cent year-on-year, which is a cause of worry. That's why we are selling rice under the OMSS". However, rice sale has been only

IIP surges 11.7% in October; retail Inflation jumps to 5.55% in November

IIP surges 11.7% in Oct; uptick in food prices lifts retail inflation to 5.55% in Nov