Inflation dips to 5.41 per cent; WPI at 159.8

The annual inflation rate fell by 0.06 percentage points to 5.41 per cent for the week-ended May 19 although the prices of primary items fell by 0.3 per cent.

The point-to-point inflation rate based on the Wholesale Price Index for all commodities (base year: 1993-94 = 100) stood at 5.47 per cent in the previous week and higher at 6.24 per cent a year ago. The WPI fell minutely by 0.1 per cent to 159.8 from 159.9 during the period. The index was 151.6 a year ago.

Primary articles became cheaper and manufactured items became costlier by 0.1 per cent, while fuel products continued to remain firm at the previous week's level. The index for primary articles group fell to 165.3 from 165.8 on account of cheaper food and non-food articles and the index was 161.3 the previous year. The index for manufactured products' group rose by 0.1 per cent to 143.9 from 143.8.