Headline inflation eases marginally to 9.72 pct in September

New Delhi, Oct 14: Headline inflation remained close to the double-digit mark at 9.72 per cent in September as all items, including food products, fuel and manufactured goods, grew costlier, a development likely to prompt the Reserve Bank to continue with its policy of monetary tightening.

Inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), stood at 9.78 per cent in August. The rate of price rise was recorded at 8.98 per cent in September, 2010.

As per data released by the government today, overall inflation in June this year was revised upward to 9.36 per cent from the provisional estimate of 9.22 per cent.

On an annual basis, food items became 9.23 per cent more expensive during the month under review. Onions grew 23.58 per cent costlier, while fruit prices were up 15.98 per cent and the rates for potatoes rose by 14.64 per cent.

Overall, vegetable prices witnessed 14.04 per cent inflation during September, 2011.
Inflation in overall primary articles, which have a share of over 20 per cent in the WPI basket, stood at 11.84 per cent in September, compared to 12.58 per cent in August.

Non-food primary articles, which include fibres, oil seeds and minerals, became dearer by 14.82 per cent in September, as against 17.75 per cent in the previous month.

Prices of manufactured products, which have a weight of around 65 per cent in the WPI basket, went up by 7.69 per cent year-on-year in September compared to 7.79 per cent in August.

Inflation in manufactured products has been steadily rising since February this year, when it crossed the 6 per cent-mark.

PTI