The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly WPI, stood at 5.70% (provisional) for the month of March, 2014 (over March,2013) as compared to 4.68% (provisional) for the previous month and 5.65% during the corresponding month of the previous year.
Build up inflation rate in the financial year so far was 5.70% compared to a build up rate of 5.65% in the corresponding period of the previous year.
The movement of the index for the various commodity groups is summarized below:-
Primary Articles (Weight 20.12%)
The index for this major group rose by 0.7% to 240.2 (provisional) from 238.6 (provisional) for the previous month. The groups and items which showed variations during the month are as follows:-
The index for ‘Food Articles’ group rose by 1.0% to 235.3 (provisional) from 232.9 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of jowar (8%), ragi (4%), fruits & vegetables, maize, urad and moong (3% each), barley and bajra (2% each) and coffee, mutton, milk, fish-marine, masur and poultry chicken (1% each). However, the price of egg (3%), tea (2%) and wheat (1%) declined.
The index for ‘Non-Food Articles’ group declined by 0.1% to 217.2 (provisional) from 217.4 (provisional) for the previous month due to lower price of flowers (8%), guar seed (6%), raw silk (5%), raw cotton (4%), cotton seed (3%), sunflower (2%) and raw jute, mesta and safflower (kardi seed) (1% each). However, the price of fodder (6 %), copra (coconut), logs & timber and soyabean (5% each), gingelly seed (sesamum) (3%) and castor seed, raw rubber, tobacco, rape & mustard seed, linseed, groundnut seed and coir fibre (1% each) moved up.
The index for ‘Minerals’ group declined by 0.3% to 350.9 (provisional) from 352.1 (provisional) for the previous month due to lower price of dolomite (8%), magnesite (6%), zinc concentrate (5%), copper ore (3%), barytes (2%) and chromite and crude petroleum (1% each). However, the price of sillimanite (3%) and iron ore and manganese ore (2% each) moved up.
Fuel & Power (Weight 14.91%)
The index for this major group rose by 0.2% to 213.1 (provisional) from 212.6 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of high speed diesel and petrol (1% each). However, the price of kerosene (2%) and bitumen and LPG (1% each) declined.
Manufactured Products (Weight 64.97%)
The index for this major group rose by 0.5% to 153.5 (provisional) from 152.7 (provisional) for the previous month. The groups and items for which the index showed variations during the month are as follows:-
The index for ‘Food Products’ group rose by 0.3% to 168.7 (provisional) from 168.2 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of tea dust (blended) (3%), rice bran oil (2%) and mustard & rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, gur, sugar and gola (cattle feed) (1% each). However, the price of coffee powder (2%), tea leaf (unblended) and cotton seed oil (2% each) and groundnut oil, oil cakes and processed prawn (1% each) declined.
The index for ‘Beverages, Tobacco & Tobacco Products’ group rose by 4.0% to 195.1 (provisional) from 187.6 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of cigarette (11%), rectified spirit and imfl-blended (6% each), dried tobacco (2%) and beer (1%).
The index for ‘Textiles’ group rose by 0.6% to 141.3 (provisional) from 140.4 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of gunny and hessian cloth (2%) and cotton yarn, woollen textiles and jute sacking bag (1 % each). However, the price of jute yarn (2%) declined.
The index for ‘Wood & Wood Products’ group rose by 0.5% to 183.1 (provisional) from 182.1 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of plywood & fibre board (1%).
The index for ‘Paper & Paper Products’ group rose by 0.1% to 146.3 (provisional) from 146.2 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of maplitho paper (2%) and kraft paper & bags (1%). However, the price of paper cartons / boxes (2%) declined.
The index for ‘Leather & Leather Products’ group rose by 0.5% to 146.0 (provisional) from 145.3 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of leather garments & jackets (1%).
The index for ‘Rubber & Plastic Products’ group rose by 0.5% to 149.2 (provisional) from 148.4 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of plastic products (1%).
The index for ‘Chemicals & Chemical Products’ group rose by 0.2% to 151.1 (provisional) from 150.8 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of synthetic resin (4%), dye & dye intermediates (2%) and pigment & pigment intermediates, pesticides, castor oil, non-cyclic compound, rubber chemicals, thermocol and safety matches/ match box (1% each). However, the price of agarbattis and basic organic chemicals (1% each) declined.
The index for ‘Non-Metallic Mineral Products’ group rose by 0.7% to 167.6 (provisional) from 166.5 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of marbles (5%), bricks & tiles (2%) and railway sleeper and white cement (1% each).
The index for ‘Basic Metals, Alloys & Metal Products’ group rose by 0.6% to 167.6 (provisional) from 166.6 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of rails (6%), brass (5%), pencil ingots (4%), nuts/bolts/screw/ washers and zinc (3% each), ferro chrome, ferro silicon, steel castings, silver and gp/gc sheets (2 % each) and ferro manganese, sheets, joist & beams, aluminium and metal containers (1% each).
The index for ‘Machinery & Machine Tools’ group rose by 0.2% to 132.7 (provisional) from 132.4 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of battery dry cells (8%), fibre optic cable (3%), t.v.sets and air conditioner & refrigerators (2% each) and ball/roller bearing and control equipments (1% each). However, the price of sprinkler and capacitors (1% each) declined.
The index for ‘Transport, Equipment & Parts’ group rose by 0.2% to 135.8 (provisional) from 135.5 (provisional) for the previous month due to higher price of tractors (3%) and auto parts (1%).
FINAL INDEX FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY, 2014 (BASE YEAR: 2004-05=100)
For the month of January, 2014, the final Wholesale Price Index for ‘All Commodities’ (Base: 2004-05=100) stood at 179.1 as compared to 178.9 (provisional) and annual rate of inflation based on final index stood at 5.17% as compared to 5.05% respectively as reported on 14.02.2014.
