Food inflation in India increased in the first week of September even as inflation in the Non-Food group and Fuel group declined, data released by the Government showed.
The new data is based on a new WPI series with different base year, components and weightings.
Year-on-year inflation in the Food Articles group rose to 15.1% in the week ended Sept. 4 from 14.56% in the previous week, the Commerce & Industry Ministry said today. It was at 14.64% in the comparable week last year. The index for Food Articles group rose by 0.3% to 178.4 from 177.8 in the week ended Aug. 28.
Inflation in the Primary Articles group rose to 16.22% in the week under review from 15.43% in the week ended Aug. 28. It stood at 11.15% during the corresponding week of the last year. The index for the Primary Articles group rose by 0.2% to 178.4 from 178.0 in the week ended Aug. 28.
Annual inflation in the Fuel & Power group fell to 11.48% in the week ended Sept. 4 from 12.61% in the preceding week. It was at (-)8.44% during the corresponding week of the previous year. The index for this major group declined by 0.4% to 147.6 from 148.2 in the week ended Aug. 28.
On an annual basis, cereal prices rose 7.16% driven mainly by higher prices of pulses, rice and wheat compared to the same period last year. While pulses became dearer by 6.1%, rice and wheat prices rose by 5.74% and 10.16%, respectively.
Among other food items, milk prices soared 23.41%, while that of fruits went up by 8.27%. Vegetables also became dearer by 3.82%on an annual basis, while potato and onions became cheaper by 45.92% and 4.17%.