Inflation rises to 5.64 per cent

New Delhi, Jan 29: The headline inflation rose to 5.64 per cent for the week ended Jan 17, from 5.60 pc in the previous week due to the increase in food items, jet fuel and alchohol prices. Inflation for the week ended January 17 inched up by 0.04 per cent from 5.6 per cent a week ago, even as beer and alcohol became dearer by 25 per cent. It was 4.45 per cent a year ago.

On Jan 10 India's wholesale price index (WPI) rose to 5.60 pc in the 12 months, above the then previous week's annual rise of 5.24 pc. That figure then, was compared to the annual inflation rate during the corresponding week of the previous year which had stood at 4.36 per cent.The week-on-week rise has stunned people and analysts.

WPI is more closely monitored than the comsumer price index, because it covers higher number of products and is released weekly. The food items which became deared during the week due to the 8-day truckers strike include maize, bajra, jowar, rice, sugar and gur.

Inflation, which declined for ten consecutive weeks, rose marginally for the week ended January 10 to 5.6 per cent. Inflation for the week ended November 22 was revised downwards to 8.26 per cent from 8.40 per cent in the provisional estimates.

The government sources said that the cut in fuel price by the goverment might lower the inflation rate by 1 pc over the coming weeks.

OneIndia News (With inputs from Agencies)