Inflation rises to 4.35 per cent

{image-inflation+rbi_24022008.jpg news.oneindia.in}New Delhi, Feb 24: The headline inflation rate for the week ended February 9 rose to 4.35 per cent, compared to its previous week's level of 4.07 per cent, due to rise in prices of food products and textiles. The annual inflation rate was 6.52 per cent during the corresponding week of the previous year, an official statement said.

The wholesale price index for 'All Commodities' for the week ended February 9, rose by 0.3 per cent to 218.1 (Provisional) from 217.4 (Provisional) for the previous week. The index for 'Primary Articles' rose by 0.6 per cent to 225.0 (Provisional) from 223.6 (Provisional) for the previous week. The index for 'Food Articles' group rose by 0.8 per cent to 221.6 (Provisional) from 219.9 (provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of arhar and fruits and vegetables (three per cent each), condiments and spices (two per cent) and fish-marine, bajra and barley (one per cent each).

However, the prices of jowar (one per cent) declined. The index for 'Non-Food Articles' group rose by 0.3 per cent to 217.0 (Provisional) from 216.3 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of gingelly seed (nine per cent), groundnut seed (two per cent) and cotton seed (one per cet).

However, the prices of sunflower (six per cent) and raw wool (three per cent) declined.

The index for 'Fuel, Power, Light and Lubricants' group remain unchanged at its previous week's level of 334.0 (Provisional).

The index for 'Manufactured Products' group rose by 0.4 per cent to 189.9 (Provisional) from 189.2 (provisional) for the previous week. The index for 'Food Products' group rose by 0.8 per cent to 196.0 (Provisional) from 194.4 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of gingelly oil, oil cakes and bran (all kinds) (three per cent), rice bran oil, imported edible oil and khandsari (two per cent each) and rape and mustard oil, groundnut oil, atta and sooji (rawa) (one per cent each).

The index for 'Textiles' group declined by 0.1 per cent to 127.7 (Provisional) from 127.8 (Provisional) for the previous week due to lower prices of hessian and sacking bags (three per cent) and hessian cloth (one per cent).

However, the prices of other cotton yarn (one per cent) moved up.

The index for 'Rubber and Plastic Products' group rose by 0.6 per cent to 163.5 (Provisional) from 162.5 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of cycle tubes (six per cent), pvc fitting and accessories (three per cent) and cycle tyres (two per cent).

The index for 'Chemicals and Chemical Products' group rose by 0.7 per cent to 208.4 (Provisional) from 207.0 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of methanol (25 per cent), acid (all kinds) (10 per cent), hair oil and calcium ammonium nitrate n-content (four per cent each) and synthetic rubber (three per cent).

However, the prices of caustic soda (sodium hydroxide) (one per cent) declined.

The index for 'Non-Mettalic Mineral Products' group rose by 0.6 per cent to 211.5 (Provisional) from 210.3 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of fire bricks (three per cent) and cement (one per cent).

The index for 'Basic Metals Alloys and Metal Products' group rose marginally to 248.8 (Provisional) from 248.7 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of lead ingots (two per cent) and zinc ingots (one per cent).

The index for 'Machinery and Machine Tools' group rose by 0.1 per cent to 167.7 (Provisional) from 167.6 (Provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of other pumps (five per cent).

UNI