Inflation declines marginally to 3.54 per cent

New Delhi, May 7: The annual rate of inflation fell marginally to 3.54 per cent for the week ended April 22, as against 3.55 per cent during the previous week, despite a rise in manufactured products and food products.

The inflation rate, calculated on point-to-point basis, stood at 5.96 per cent during the corresponding week of the previous year, according to official figures released here.

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for all commodities for the week ended April 22, rose by 0.2 per cent to 198.8 from 198.5 for the previous week.

The index for the Primary Articles group rose by 0.2 per cent to 194.7 from 194.3 for the previous week.

The index for Food Articles group rose by 0.3 per cent to 197.3 from 196.7 for the previous week due to higher prices of eggs (11 per cent), condiments and spices and wheat (2 per cent each) and jowar, bajra and gram (1 per cent each).

However, the prices of maize and arhar (1 per cent each) declined.

The index for Non-Food Articles group declined by 0.1 per cent to 176.5 from 176.6 for the previous week due to lower prices of copra (4 per cent), linseed (3 per cent), raw cotton (2 per cent) and raw jute and castor seed (1 per cent each).

However, the prices of raw rubber (5 per cent), cotton seed (3 per cent), rape and mustard seed (2 per cent) and safflower (kardi seed) and gingelly seed (1 per cent each) moved up.

The index for the Fuel, Power, Light and Lubricants remained stagnant at its previous week's level of 316.8. The index for the Manufactured Products group rose by 0.2 per cent to 173.9 from 173.5 for the previous week. The index for Food Products group rose by 0.2 per cent to 178.8 from 177.5 for the previous week due to higher prices of groundnut oil (2 per cent) and rice bran oil, coconut oil and sugar (1 per cent each).

However, the prices of unblended black tea gr (4 per cent) and cotton seed oil (1 per cent each) declined.

The index for Beverages, Tobacco and Tobacco products group rose marginally to 235.6 from 235.5 for the previous week due to higher prices of zerda (2 per cent).

The index for Textiles group declined by 0.2 per cent to 130.3 from 130.5 for the previous week due to lower prices of hessian and sacking bags (4 per cent) and hessian cloth and wollen yarn (1 per cent each).

The index for Chemicals and Chemical Products group rose by 0.8 per cent to 191.5 from 190.0 for the previous week due to higher prices of toilet soap (12 per cent), household laundry soap (10 per cent), synthetic detergent (9 per cent) and carbon black (2 per cent).

However, the prices of bopp film (3 per cent) declined.

The index for Non Metallic Mineral Products group rose by 0.1 per cent to 189.0 from 188.8 for the previous week due to higher prices of cement (2 per cent).

However, the prices of building bricks (1 per cent) declined.

The index for Basic Metals Alloys and Metal Products group rose by 0.1 per cent to 218.1 from 218.0 for the previous week due to higher prices of zinc ingots (5 per cent).

The index for Machinery and Machine Tools group rose by 0.3 per cent to 149.8 from 149.3 for the previous week due to higher prices of other cables (6 per cent), sewing machines (5 per cent), rubber insulated cables (2 per cent) and enamelled copper wires (1 per cent)

UNI