Inflation rises to 6.95 percent in February

New Delhi, Mar 14: Inflation rose to 6.95 per cent in February because of sharp increase in food prices, especially vegetables and protein-based items. Inflation, as measured by the Wholesale Price Index (WPI), was 6.55 per cent in January.

In February last year, it was 9.54 per cent. As per the official data released today, food inflation was 6.07 per cent in February against (-)0.52 per cent in January. Pulses turned expensive by 7.91 per cent and vegetables by 1.52 per cent during February.

Prices of vegetables had declined by 43.13 per cent in January. Besides, egg, meat and fish prices rose 20 per cent during the month, from 18.63 per cent in January. Milk became expensive by 11.70 per cent, while rice and cereals turned costlier by 1.53 per cent and 1.71 per cent respectively.

However, prices of potato and onion declined by 2.22 per cent and 48.50 per cent year-on-year in February. Food articles have 14.3 per cent share in the WPI basket.

Prices of manufactured items, which have a weight of around 65 per cent in the WPI basket, went up by 5.75 per cent year-on-year in February, as against 6.49 per cent in the previous month. The headline inflation numbers for December was revised upwards to 7.74 per cent, from the provisional estimate of 7.47 per cent.

PTI