Higher manufactured product, fuel prices push inflation to 4.82%

New Delhi, Aug 18 (UNI) The annual rate of inflation rose to 4.82 per cent for the week ended August 5, as compared to 4.61 per cent the previous week on account of higher manufactured products and fuel prices.

The inflation rate, calculated on point-to-point basis, stood at 3.78 per cent during the corresponding week of the previous year, according to official figures released here today.

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) for all commodities for the week ended August 5, 2006, rose by 0.1 per cent to 204.3 from 204.1 for the previous week.

Promising that inflation rate will be contained at about 4.5 per cent, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said steps were being taken to ensure adequate availability of wheat, pulses and sugar at affordable prices.

There was shortage of other essential commodities, he said last week.

The index for the Primary Articles group declined by 0.3 per cent to 202.5 from 203.1 for the previous week.

The index for Food Articles group declined by 0.3 per cent to 203.7 from 204.4 for the previous week due to lower prices of jowar (3 per cent) and fruits and vegetables (2 per cent).

However, the prices of gram, maize, pork, eggs, and fish-inland (1 per cent each) moved up.

The index for Non-Food Articles group declined by 0.1 per cent to 183.8 from 184.0 for the previous week due to lower prices of raw jute (2 per cent) and cotton seed seed and groundnut seed (1 per cent each).

However, the prices of copra (2 per cent) and castor seed (1 per cent) moved up.

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