The Hindu Business Line : Costlier manufactured goods push up inflation rate

New Delhi, Jan. 25 The annual Wholesale Price Index-based inflation rose 3.83 per cent during the week ended January 12, marginally higher than the previous week’s annual rise of 3.79 per cent.

The spurt in the year-on-year inflation rate was mainly on account of a rise in prices of manufactured goods and some food products, Government data showed on Friday.

The annual rate of inflation was recorded at 6.15 per cent during the corresponding week a year ago.

The Wholesale Price Index of all commodities increased to 216.7 points from 216.6 a week ago On a disaggregated basis, the Primary Articles group index declined by 0.1 per cent as the index for the Food Articles group fell by 0.2 per cent due to lower prices of gram (5 per cent), fish-marine (2 per cent) and jowar, condiments and spices and masur (1 per cent each).

However, the prices of maize and rice (1 per cent each) moved up.

The index for the Non-Food Articles group rose by 0.4 per cent due to higher prices of soyabean (7 per cent), sunflower (3 per cent) and copra, raw tobacco and raw rubber (1 per cent each).

However, the prices of fodder (2 per cent) and safflower (kardi seed) (1 per cent) declined.

Fuel, light

The Fuel, Power, Light and Lubricants group remained unchanged at its previous week’s level of 334.1 points.

The Manufactured Products group index rose by 0.1 per cent to as the index for the Food Products group declined by 0.1 per cent due to lower prices of bagasse (25 per cent).

However, the prices of imported edible oil (6 per cent), sunflower oil (4 per cent), cotton seed oil and gingelly oil (3 per cent each) and sugar and coconut oil (1 per cent each) moved up. The index for the Textiles group declined by 0.2 per cent due to lower prices of hessian and sacking bags (3 per cent) and hessian cloth (2 per cent). However, the prices of tyre cord (2 per cent) moved up. The index for ‘Chemicals & Chemical Products’ group rose by 0.6 per cent due to higher prices of acid (all kinds) (15 per cent), epoxy resins (2 per cent), and liquid chlorine (1 per cent).

Resins, vitamin

However, the prices of synthetic resins (6 per cent), vitamin tablets (5 per cent), resins (all kinds) (3 per cent) and varnishes and BOPP film (2 per cent each) declined.

The index for ‘Transport Equipment & Parts’ group rose by 0.2 per cent due to higher prices of car chassis (assembled) (1 per cent). The final WPI for the week ended November 17 stood revised at 216 points as compared to 215.7 points reported provisionally and the annual rate of inflation based on final index, calculated on a point to point basis, stood revised to 3.35 per cent as compared to 3.21 per cent points.

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