Inflation slips to 4.29 pc due to lower prices of eggs, fish

New Delhi, Mar 12 (UNI) The annual rate of inflation slipped to 4.29 per cent for the week ending February 25, 2006 against 4.34 per cent the previous week, mainly on account of lower prices of eggs, fish-marine, fruits and vegetables.

The inflation rate, calculated on a point-to-point basis, was 5.06 per cent during the period a year ago, according to official figures released here.

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for all commodities slipped by 0.1 per cent to 197.0 from 197.1 for the previous week.

The final WPI for all commodities for the week ended December 31, 2005 stood at 197.1 as against 196.8 (provisionl) week's level, while the annual rate of inflation based on final index, calculated on point to point basis, stood at 4.56 per cent as compared to 4.40 per cent (provisional) for the same week.

The index for the primary articles group was down by 0.4 per cent to 194.5 from 195.2 for the previous week.

The index for Food Articles group remained lower as prices of eggs and fish-marine were down by four per cent each, fruits and vegetables by two per cent each, and barley, bajra, maize, jowar, gram and masur by one per cent each.

However, the prices of tea went up by eight per cent, poultry chicken by two per cent and fish-inland and urad by one per cent each.

The index for Non-Food Articles group declined by 0.2 per cent to 176.4 from 176.7 for the previous week due to lower prices of copra nd sunflower by two per cent each and safflower (kardi seed) and raw tobacco by one per cent each.

However, the prices of niger seed went up by two per cent and cotton seed by one per cent.

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