Chemicals and Chemical products fuel inflation

New Delhi, Jan 25: The inflation rate for the week ended January 12 stood at 3.83 per cent as compared to its previous week's level of 3.79 per cent, on account of higher prices of Chemical and Chemical products.

The annual inflation rate was 6.15 per cent during the corresponding week of the previous year, an official statement said here today. It is the 32nd successive week that inflation has remained below central banks comfort zone of five per cent. However, a key government meeting to decide a hike in the retail prices of oil is expected to fuel inflationary pressures with the number expected to move towards four per cent in the near-term.

The wholesale price index for 'All Commodities' for the week ended January 12, rose by 0.05 per cent to 216.7 (Provisional) from 216.6 (Provisional) for the previous week.

The index for 'Chemicals and Chemical Products' group rose by 0.6 per cent to 205.7 (Provisional) from 204.5 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of acid (all kinds fifteen per cent), epoxy rasins (two per cent) and liquid chlorine (one per cent).

However, the prices of synthetic resins (six per cent), vitamin tablets A, B, C, D and others (five per cent), resins (all kind three per cent) and varnishes and bopp film (two per cent each) declined.

The index for 'Manufactured Products' group rose by 0.1 per cent to 188.7 (Provisional) from 188.5 (provisional) for the previous week.

The index for 'Primary Articles' declined by 0.1 per cent to 222.1 (Provisional) from 222.2 (Provisional) for the previous week.

The index for 'Food Articles' group declined by 0.2 per cent to 219.9 (Provisional) from 220.3 (Provisional) for the previous week due to lower prices of gram (five per cent), fish marine (two per cent each), jowar, condiments and spices and masur (one per cent each).

However, the prices of maize and rice (one per cent each) moved up.

The index for 'Non-Food Articles' group rose by 0.4 per cent to 211.7 (Provisional) from 210.8 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of soyabean (seven per cent), sunflower(three per cent) copra, raw tobacco and raw rubber (one per cent each).

However the prices of fodder (two per cent), safflower (kardi seed) one per cent declined.

The index for 'Fuel, Power, Light and Lubricants' group remained unchanged at its previous week 334.1 (Provisional).

The index for 'Food Products' group declined by 0.1 per cent to 194.9 (Provisional) from 195.0 (Provisional) for the previous week due to lower prices of bagasse (twenty five per cent). However, the prices of imported edible oil (six per cent), sunflower oil (four per cent), cotton seed oil and gingelly oil (three per cent each) and sugar and coconut oil (one per cent) each moved up.

The index for textile group declined by 0.2 per cent to 128.0 (Provisional) from 128.2 (Provisional) for the previous week due to lower prices of hessian and sacking bags (three per cent) and hessian cloth (two per cent). However, the prices of tyre cord (two per cent) moved up.

The index for the 'Transport Equipment and Parts' group rose by 0.2 per cent to 166.8 (Provisional) from 166.4 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prioces of car chassis assembled (one per cent).

UNI