Food inflation drops sharply in early November

India's food inflation fell sharply in the first week of November but remained above the double-digit mark and non-food inflation increased, data released by the Government showed. Annual inflation in the Food Articles space stood at 10.3% in the week ended November 6 as against 12.3% in the previous week, the Commerce & Industry Ministry said. It was at 13.99% in the comparable period last year. The WPI for the Food Articles group declined by 0.6% to 178.8. Inflation in the Primary Articles group stood at 13.3% in the week under review versus 14.87% in the week ended October 30, the Commerce Ministry said. It was at 12.17% in the week ended November 7, 2009. The index for this major group declined by 0.1% to 180.6 from 180.8 in the previous week.



Inflation in the Fuel & Power group stood at 10.57% in the week ended November 6 compared to 10.67% in the week ended October 30, the Commerce Ministry said today. Inflation in this group was at (-)1.97% in the year-ago period. The index for Fuel & Power group rose by 0.1% to 148.5 from 148.3 in the previous week. Inflation in the Non-Food Articles group jumped to 22.01% in the week ended November 6 from 20.49% in the week ended October 30, the Commerce Industry said today. Inflation in this space was at 4.10% in the corresponding week of last year. The index for Non-Food Articles group rose by 1.5% to 164.1. Inflation in the Minerals group slid to 19.72% in the week under review from 23.30% in the preceding week. It was at 14.47% in the year-ago period.