Essential commodities, fuel prices stable: Finance Ministry

New Delhi, Jul 11 (UNI) The Finance Ministry today played down inflation rate touching an all-time high of 13 years at 11.89 per cent, saying that prices of many essential commodities, primary articles, manufactured goods, fuel and power have either stabilised or declined.

''Prices of essential commodities, which include food grains, pulses, edible oils, vegetables, dairy products and some other commodities including kerosene, soap safety matches have more or less stabilised compared to last week,'' an official statement said here.

In the 'Primary Articles' group, of a total of 98 articles, 12 articles have shown a decline in prices as compared to June 21, 2008.

These include wheat, rice, maize, garlic, cabbage, cumin, black pepper, ginger and niger seed. Another 55 articles have shown no increase in prices.

In the case of 'Manufactured Products', out of a total 320 commodities, about 278 have shown no increase in prices over the last week.

In the case of 16 commodities, there is a decline in prices.

These commodities include lead ingots, pencillin, imported edible oil, pig iron, steel products, cotton seed oil and de-oiled cake.

The 'Fuel, Power and Light' group exhibits stability of prices, the statement added.

UNI MP SR PM1820