Inflation annual rate rises to 4.96 per cent

New Delhi, Jul 14: The annual rate of inflation today increased to 4.96 per cent for the week ended July 1, higher than 4.84 per cent last week, due to a rise in the prices of manufactured products.

The inflation rate, calculated on point-to-point basis, stood at 4.14 per cent during the corresponding week of the previous year, according to official figures released here.

The index for Fuel, Power, Light and Lubricants declined marginally to 326.3 from 326.4 for the previous week's due to lower prices of furnace oil. The index for Manufactured Products group rose by 0.3 per cent to 176.0 from 175.5 for the previous week. The index for Food Products declined by 0.1 per cent to 179.2 from 179.4 for the previous week due to lower prices of coconut oil (2 per cent) and khandsari and gingelly oil (1 per cent).

However, the prices of imported edible oil (1 per cent) moved up.

The index for Textiles group rose by 0.1 per cent to 130.9 from 130.8 for the previous week due to higher prices of of texturised yarn (4 per cent) and hessian and sacking bags and tyre cord fabric (1 per cent each).

However, the prices of hessian cloth (1 per cent) declined.

The index for Paper and Paper products group rose by 0.1 per cent to 188.5 from 188.3 for the previous week due to higher prices of kraft peper (1 per cent).

The index for Chemicals and Chemical Products group rose by 0.2 per cent to 193.9 from 193.5 for the previous week due to higher prices of benzene( 14 per cent) and purified terephthalic acid (pta) (7 per cent).

However, the prices of synthetic resins declined.

The index for Basic Metal Alloys and Metal Products group rose by 1.7 per cent to 225.8 from 222.1 for the previous week due to higher prices of heavy light structurals (13 per cent), heavy rails (23 kg upwards) (7 per cent), other iron steel, angles, channels and sections and bars and rods (5 per cent each), steel sheets, plates and strips and ms bars and rounds (3 per cent each), pipes and tubes (2 per cent) and basic pig iron and foundary pig iron (1 per cent each).

However, the prices of zinc (2 per cent) declined.

The index for Transport Equipment and Parts group rose by 0.1 per cent to 161.1 from 160.9 for the previous week due to higher prices of scooters (2 per cent).

UNI