Inflation dips marginally to 4.61per cent

New Delhi, Aug 13: The annual rate of inflation stepped down marginally to 4.61 per cent for the week ended July 29, as compared to 4.67 per cent last week, due to a decline in the prices of some food articles.

The inflation rate, calculated on point-to-point basis, stood at 4.16 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 July 29 remained unchanged at its previous week's level of 204.1.

Last week, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said the government is open to take fiscal steps to contain the price rise if needed.

The index for the Primary Articles group declined by 0.1 per cent to 203.1 from 203.4 for the previous week.

The index for Food Articles group declined by 0.2 per cent to 204.4 from 204.8 for the previous week due to lower prices of milk and urad (1 per cent each).

However, the prices of eggs and condiments and spices (1 per cent) moved up.

The index for Non-Food Articles group declined by 0.1 per cent to 184.0 from 184.1 for the previous week due to lower prices of raw rubber (14 per cent), sunflower (7 per cent), niger seed (5 per cent) and cotton seed (1 per cent).

However, the prices of raw cotton (3 per cent), linseed, copra, raw tobacco (2 per cent each) and groundnut seed, castor seed, rape and mustard seed and safflower (kardi seed) (1 per cent each) moved up.

The index for Fuel, Power, Light and Lubricants group rose by 0.1 per cent to 327.6 from 327.4 for the previous week due to higher prices of aviation turbine fuel (4 per cent). The index for Manufactured Products group rose by 0.1 per cent to 176.9 from 176.8 for the previous week. The index for Food Products group rose by 0.2 per cent to 180.7 from 180.4 for the previous week due to higher prices of processed tea (29 per cent), cotton seed oil and sooji (rawa) (4 per cent each), imported edible oil (2 per cent) and rice bran oil, atta, gur, maida, groundnut oil and coconut oil (1 per cent each).

However, the prices of bran (all kinds) (6 per cent) declined.

The index for Textiles group rose by 0.1 per cent to 130.4 from 130.3 for the previous week due to higher prices of hessian and sacking bags (3 per cent).

The index for Chemicals and Chemical Products group rose by 0.1 per cent to 195.4 from 195.3 for the previous week due to higher prices of carbon black (5 per cent), phenol and resins (all kinds) (2 per cent each) and tooth paste and bopp film (1 per cent each).

However, the prices of acid (all kinds) (1 per cent) declined.

The index for Basic Metal Alloys and Metal Products group declined marginally to 227.9 from 228.0 for the previous week due to lower prices of forging (4 per cent), zinc (2 per cent) and zinc ingots and pipes and tubes (1 per cent each).

The index for Machinery and Machinery Tools group rose by 0.1 per cent to 152.5 from 152.4 for the previous week due to higher prices of printing machine (8 per cent).

UNI