Inflation rises to 5.02 per cent

New Delhi, Mar 7: The headline inflation rate for the week ended February 23 rose to 5.02 per cent, compared to its previous week's level of 4.89 per cent. The annual inflation rate was 6.20 per cent during the corresponding week of the previous year, an official statement said.

The index for 'Manufactured Products' group rose by 0.1 per cent to 190.3 (Provisional) from 190.2 (Provisional) for the previous week. The index for 'Food Products' group rose by 0.3 per cent to 196.8 (Provisional) from 196.2 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of sunflower oil (eight per cent), imported edible oil (five per cent), hydrogenated vanaspati (four per cent), gingelly oil (three per cent), rice bran oil and cotton seed oil (two per cent each) and coconut oil, gur, groundnut oil and rape and mustard oil (one per cent each).

However, the prices of khandsari (two per cent) and ghee (one per cent) declined.

The index for 'Textiles' group rose by 0.4 per cent to 128.1 (Provisional) from 127.6 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of cotton yarn-cones, cotton yarn-hanks, synthetic yarn and nylon filament yarn (one per cent each).

However, the prices of polyster staple fibre (two per cent) declined.

The index for 'Chemicals and Chemical Products' group rose by 0.1 per cent to 208.9 (Provisional) from 208.7 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of sulpha methoxozole (six per cent), purified terephthalic acid (pta) and benzene (three per cent each) and syrup and acid (all kinds)(one per cent each).

However, the prices of oxygen (one per cent) declined.

The index for 'Basic Metals Alloys and Metal Products' group declined by 0.4 per cent to 249.6 (Provisional) from 250.6 (Provisional) for the previous week due to lower prices of nickel alloy (16 per cent), alloy stainless steel (14 per cent) and alloy steel casting (five per cent).

However, the prices of lead ingots (four per cent) and pipes and tubes and zinc ingots (one per cent each) moved up.

The index for 'Machinery and Machine Tools' group rose by 0.1 per cent to 167.8 (Provisional) from 167.7 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of sewing machines (nine per cent).

UNI