Food price inflation turn higher again

Food price inflation inched higher again in the week ended Dec. 19 after a brief drop in the previous week, data released by the Government showed. Prices of even Non-food items and Fuel products have started firming up, as per the latest Government figures. The point-to-point inflation in the Food Articles group stood at 19.83% in the week under review as against 18.65% in the week ended Dec. 12, the Commerce & Industry Ministry said. Food price inflation was at 19.95% in the week ended Dec. 5.

The index for the Primary Articles group declined by 0.2% to 284.1 from 284.7 in the previous week. Inflation in the Primary Articles group rose to 15.49% in the week ended Dec. 19 versus 14.66% in the preceding week. Primary Articles inflation was at 10.81% during the week ended Dec. 20, 2008.

The index for the Fuel, Power & Light group remained unchanged at its previous week's level of 344.9. Year-on-year inflation in the Fuel, Power & Light group increased to 4.45% from 3.95% in the week ended Dec. 12. Inflation in the Fuel & Power group stood at (-) 0.75% during the corresponding week (Dec. 20, 2008) of the previous year.

Year-on-year inflation in the Non-food Articles group climbed to 8.74% in the third week of this month compared to 7.97% in the second week. Inflation in the Minerals group stood at -5.91% in the week ended Dec. 19 as against -3.28% in the preceding week. Inflation in the Mineral Oils group rose to 6.56% from 5.67%.