Higher prices of food items push inflation to 5.44 per cent

New Delhi, June 30 (UNI) Continuing its upward trend, the annual rate of inflation moved further to 5.44 per cent for the week ended June 17, as against 5.24 per cent during the previous week due to higher prices of food articles like pulses, fruit and vegetables and minerals.

The inflation rate, calculated on point-to-point basis, stood at 4.10 per cent during the corresponding week of the previous year, according to official figures released here today.

Concerned over the Wholesale prices-based inflation rate touching a one-year high, the government yesterday said it was vigilant and open to take more policy measures to curb the price rise.

It has already allowed duty-free imports of pulses and sugar, while drastically decreasing customs duty on wheat imports to 5 per cent from 50 per cent.

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for all commodities for the week ended June 17, rose by 0.2 per cent to 203.4 from 203.0 for the previous week.

The index for the Primary Articles group rose by 1.2 per cent to 205.2 from 202.7 for the previous week.

The index for Food Articles group rose by 0.8 per cent to 208.7 from 207.0 for the previous week due to higher prices of urad (4 per cent), fish-marine and eggs (3 per cent each), fruits and vegetables (2 per cent) and barley, gram, ragi and milk (1 per cent each).

However, the prices of bajra (2 per cent) and condiments and spices (1 per cent) declined.

The index for Non-Food Articles group rose by 1.1 per cent to 181.5 from 179.6 for the previous week due to higher prices of fodder (8 per cent), raw silk (6 per cent), raw cotton (4 per cent), niger seed, gingelly seed and groundnut seed (2 per cent each) and castor seed( 1 per cent).

However, the prices of sunflower and raw jute (1 per cent) declined.

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