Inflation touches 5.24 per cent

New Delhi, June 23: Crossing five per cent for the first time in 50 weeks, the annual rate of inflation rose to 5.24 per cent or the week ended June 10, as against 4.72 per cent during the previous week due to increase in prices of food items and fuel.

The inflation rate, calculated on point-to-point basis, stood at 4.50 per cent during the corresponding week of the previous year, according to official figures released here today.

The index for Fuel, Power, Light and Lubricants rose by 1.7 per cent to 326.0 from 320.4 for the previous week due to higher prices of petrol (9 per cent), high speed diesel oil and light diesel oil (7 per cent each) and bitumen (3 per cent). However, the prices of Naphta (2 per cent), furnace oil (1 per cent) declined.

The index for Manufactured Products group rose by 0.2 per cent to 175.6 from 175.3 for the previous week.

The index for Food Products rose by 0.5 per cent to 178.9 from 178.0 for the previous week due to higher prices of oil cakes (2 per cent) and butter, gingelly oil, sugar and rape and mustard oil (1 per cent each).

However, the prices of rice bran oil (1 per cent) declined.

The index for Textiles group rose by 0.3 per cent to 133.4 from 133.0 for the previous week due to higher prices of texturised yarn and polyster yarn (3 per cent each) and mixed fabrics, cotton grey cloth and canvas (1 per cent each).

However, the prices of other cotton yarn (1 per cent) declined.

The index for Paper and Paper products rose by 0.1 per cent to 188.3 from 188.1 for the previous week due to higher prices of news paper (1 per cent).

The index for Rubber and Plastic Products group rose by 0.2 per cent to 142.2 from 141.9 for the previous week due to higher prices of tractor tyres (3 per cent).

The index for Chemicals and Chemical Products group rose by 0.1 per cent to 193.1 from 193.0 for the previous week due to higher prices of thinners (5 per cent), liquid nitrogen (4 per cent) and paints (2 per cent).

However, the prices of enamels (6 per cent) declined.

The index for Non Metallic Mineral Products rose by 0.1 per cent to 188.7 to 188.6 for the previous week due to marginal rise in the prices of cement.

The index for Basic Metal Alloys and Metal Products group rose by 0.1 per cent to 222.5 from 222.2 for the previous week due to higher prices of zinc and utensils (4 per cent each), chains (2 per cent) and zinc ingots (1 per cent).

However, the lead ingots (3 per cent) declined.

The index for Machinery and Machine Tools group rose by 0.1 per cent to 151.4 from 151.2 for the previous week due to higher prices of powerlooms automatics (5 per cent), air and gas compressors and ring spinning and doubling frames (2 per cent each).

The index for Transport Equipments and Parts group rose by 0.1 per cent to 160.9 from 160.8 for the previous week due to higher prices of mopeds (1 per cent).

UNI