Inflation dips marginally to 7.82 per cent

New Delhi, May 25: The headline inflation rate for the week ended May 10 declined marginally to 7.82 per cent as compared to 7.83 per cent for the previous week. The annual inflation rate was 5.62 per cent during the corresponding week of the previous year, a statement said. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for 'All Commodities' for the week ended May 10 rose by 0.18 per cent to 229.0 (Provisional) from 228.6 (Provisional) for the previous week.

The index for 'Primary Food Articles' rose by 0.2 per cent to 239.8 (Provisional) from 239.3 (Provisional) for the previous week. The index for the 'Food Articles' group deciled marginally to 231.4 (Provisional) from 231.5 (Provisional) for the previous week due to lower prices of fruits and vegetables and moong (two per cent each), and gram and urad (one per cent each). However, the prices of tea (four per cent) and condiments and spices, fish-marine, mutton, rice, maize and wheat (one per cent each) moved up. The index for 'Non-Food Articles' group rose by 0.9 per cent to 229.9 (Provisional) from 277.9 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of safflower (kardi seed) (15 per cent), raw rubber (eight per cent), raw cotton (two per cent) and groundnut seed (one per cent).

The index for 'Fuel, Power, Light and Lubricants' group rose by 0.1 per cent to 345.8 (Provisional) from 345.4 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of aviation turbine fuel (10 per cent). The index for 'Manufactured Products' group rose by 0.2 per cent to 199.2 (Provisional) from 198.9 (Provisional) for the previous week. The index for 'Food Products' group declined by 0.2 per cent to 203.8 (Provisional) from 204.3 (Provisional) for the previous week due to lower prices of unrefined oil (13 per cent), khandsari (12 per cent), gingelly oil (three per cent) and rape and mustard oil and groundnut oil (one per cent each).

However, the prices of soyabean oil (10 per cent), gur (three per cent), cotton seed oil (two per cent) and skimmed milk powder, imported edible oil, rice bran oil and cattle feed (one per cent) moved up.

The index for 'Textiles' group rose by 0.6 per cent to 128.8 (Provisional) from 128.0 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of cotton shirtings (14 per cent), hessian and sacking bags(seven per cent), hessain cloth(five per cent), viscose staple fibre(four per cent) and other cotton yarn (one per cent).

However, the prices of polyster staple fibre(five per cent) and cotton grey cloth (others) (two per cent) declined.

The index for 'Paper and paper products' group declined by 0.2 per cent to 194.8 (provisional) from 195.2 provisional fror the previous week due to lower prices of duplex board (nine per cent), cream laid woven paper (two per cent) and mg poster paper and printing paper white (one per cent each).

However, the prices of newsprint(two per cent) moved up.

The index for 'Rubber and Plastic Products' group rose by 0.1 per cent to 163.8 (Provisional) from 163.6 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of cycle tyres (three per cent).

The index for 'Chemicals and Chemicals Products' group rose by 0.3 per cent to 212.8 (Provisional) from 212.2 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of monocrotophos (21 per cent), calcium ammonium nitrate n-content (10 per cent), endosulfan (seven per cent), blasting powder (five per cent), polystyene (two per cent) and liquid chlorine (one per cent).

However, the prices of liquid nitrogen and acetylene (two per cent each) declined.

The index for 'Machinery and Machine Tools' group rose by 0.1 per cent to 171.3 (Provisional) from 171.1 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of dry cell and electrical generators (four per cent each) and air and gas compressors (one per cent).

However, the prices of other textile machinery, ring spinning and doubling frames and roller bearings (one per cent each) declined.

The index for 'Transport, Equipment and Parts' group rose by 0.7 per cent to 172.4 (Provisional) from 171.2 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of crank shafts (21 per cent) and other automobile spare parts (nine per cent).

UNI