Inflation at its highest 6.12 pc in this fiscal

New Delhi, Jan 19: In line with its upward trend and market expectations, the headline inflation rate stood at 6.12 per cent highest during the financial year 2006-07, for the week ended January 6 due to higher food and energy prices.

The inflation rate calculated on a point-to-point basis, crossed the upper limit of the RBI and reported at 5.58 per cent last week and 3.86 per cent during the corresponding period the previous year, according to official data released here today.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram had said inflation is a concern, but was within ''expectations'' even at 5.58 per cent.

''Inflation is a concern...(But) like RBI stated previously inflation is in accordance to our expectations. We continue to monitor it and continue to take all possible steps be it on monetary or fiscal side,'' he said last Friday.

The index for Fuel, Power, Light and Lubricants group rose by 0.1 per cent to 322.3 from 321.9 the previous week due to higher prices of aviation turbine fuel (5 per cent), furnace oil (2 per cent) and naphta (1 per cent). However, the prices of bitumen (2 per cent) declined. The index for the Manufactured Products group declined 0.1 per cent to 181.1 per cent from 181.2 for the previous week.

The index for Food Products group declined by 0.5 per cent to 184.6 from 185.6 for the previous week due to lower prices of unblended black tea leaf gr (5 per cent), rice bran oil, khandsari and gur (2 per cent each) and sugar, coconut oil and imported edible oil (1 per cent each).

However, the prices of groundnut oil (4 per cent), gingelly oil (2 per cent) and rape and mustard oil, sunflower oil and salt (1 per cent each) moved up.

The index for Textiles group rose by 0.6 per cent to 133.0 from 132.2 for the previous week due to higher prices of viscose staple fibre (1 per cent).

However, the prices of nylon filament yarn (3 per cent) and tyre cord fabric, hessian and sacking bags and cotton yarn-hacks (1 per cent) decilned.

The index for Paper and Paper Products group rose by 0.6 per cent to 193.4 from 192.3 for the previous week due to higher prices of kraft paper (3 per cent) and mg poster paper, printing paper white, map litho paper, cream laid woven paper and other boards (all kinds) (1 per cent each).

The index for Chemicals and Chemical Products group dclined by 0.3 per cent to 193.6 from 194.2 for the previous week due to lower prices of ayurvedic medicine liquids (14 per cent), calcium ammonium nitrate n-content (3 per cent) and tablets except vitamin and penicilin (2 per cent).

However, the prices of epoxy resins (26 per cent) and ointments (1 per cent) moved up.

The index for Non-Metallic Mineral Products group rose by 0.1 per cent to 192.5 from 192.4 for the previous week due to marginal rise in prices of firebricks.

The index for Basic Metal Alloys and Metal Products group declined by 0.1 per cent to 239.8 from 240.0 for the previous week due to lower prices of zinc (7 per cent), cast iron casting (5 per cent), zinc ingots (3 per cent) and lead ingots (1 per cent).

However, the prices of other iron steel (2 per cent), foundary pig iron, basic pig iron, ms bars and rounds and steel sheets, plates and strips (1 per cent) moved up.

The index for Machinery and Machine Tools group rose by 0.1 per cent to 159.2 from 159.1 for the previous week due to higher prices of sewing machines (4 per cent) and boilers, its parts and accessories (1 per cent).

UNI