Wholesale price inflation up 3.1% in January

The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly WPI, stood at 2.59 per cent (provisional) in the previous month and 2.76 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. 

Build-up of inflation rate in the financial year so far stood at 2.50 per cent compared to a build-up rate of 2.49 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Inflation for the `primary articles’ group, which has a weight of 22.62 per cent in the wholesale price index, declined by 1.1 per cent in January 2020.

Within the primary articles group, inflation rate for the `food articles’ group declined by 1 per cent due to lower prices of fruits and vegetables, tea, arhar, beef and buffalo meat, pork and gram. However, the prices of betel leaves, fish-marine, bajra, masur, peas, urad, maize, barley, egg, wheat, poultry chicken, condiments and spices, fish-inland, moong, mutton and milk moved up.

Inflation rate for the 'non-food articles' group declined by 1.4 per cent due to lower prices of flowers, castor seed and animal skins (raw). However, the prices of soyabean, linseed, safflower (kardi seed), raw rubber, rape & mustard seed, raw jute, gaur seed, raw silk, mesta, gingelly seed (sesamum), coir fibre, groundnut seed, niger seed and hides moved up.

Inflation rate for the 'minerals' group declined by 7.2 per cent due to lower prices of manganese ore, copper concentrate and iron ore. However, the prices of lead concentrate and limestone moved up.

Inflation rate for the 'crude petroleum and natural gas' group rose 2.7 per cent due to higher price of crude petroleum.

Inflation rate for the `fuel and power’ group, which has a weight of 13.15 per cent in the wholesale price index, rose by 1.4 per cent in January 2020. 

Within the group, inflation rate for the 'mineral oils' group rose 2.5 per cent due to higher prices of furnace oil, naphtha, ATF, LPG, HSD and kerosene. However, the price of bitumen declined.

Inflation rate for the `manufactured products’ group, which has a weight of 64.23 per cent in the wholesale price index, rose by 0.4 per cent in January 2029.

Within the group, inflation rate for the 'manufactured food products' group rose 1.2 per cent due to higher prices of palm oil, rapeseed oil, macaroni, noodles, couscous and similar farinaceous products, other meats, preserved/processed , soybean oil, wheat bran, gur, cotton seed oil, ghee, vanaspati, bagasse, powdered milk, rice bran oil, processed ready-to-eat food, chicken/duck, dressed - fresh/frozen, bakery products, spices (including mixed spices), sooji (rawa ), maida, sugar, wheat flour (atta) and ice cream. However, the prices of processed tea, basmati rice, castor oil, coffee powder with chicory, processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans and molluscs and products thereof, molasses , honey, cocoa, chocolate and sugar confectionery, starches and starch products, rice, non-basmati and rice products declined.

Inflation rate for the 'beverages' group rose 0.5 per cent due to higher prices of rectified spirit, aerated drinks/soft drinks (incl. soft drink concentrates) and country liquor. However, the price of wine declined.

Inflation rate for the 'tobacco products' group declined by 1.2 per cent due to lower prices of other tobacco products. However, the price of biri moved up.

Inflation rate for the 'textiles' group declined by 0.4 per cent due to lower prices of cotton yarn and other textile products. However, the price of woollen yarn moved up.

Inflation rate for the 'wearing apparel' group declined by 0.8 per cent due to lower price of manufacture of wearing apparel (woven), except fur apparel.

Inflation rate for the 'leather and related products' group declined by 0.5 per cent due to lower prices of chrome tanned leather, leather shoe and belt and other articles of leather. However, the prices of vegetable tanned leather, harness, saddles and other related items, travel goods, handbags, office bags, etc, plastic/PVC chappals and canvas shoes moved up.

Inflation rate for the 'paper and paper products' group declined by 0.3 per cent due to lower prices of pulp board, map litho paper, newsprint and poster paper, corrugated sheet box, paper for printing and writing, card board, bristle paper board and laminated plastic sheet. However, the prices of base paper, kraft paper and paper carton/box moved up.

Inflation rate for the 'printing and reproduction of recorded media ' group rose 0.8 per cent due to higher price of journals/periodicals. However, the prices of sticker plastic, printed labels/posters/calendars, printed form and schedule and newspaper declined.

Inflation rate for the 'chemicals and chemical products' group rose 0.1 per cent due to higher prices of polypropylene, hydrogen peroxide, sulphuric acid, organic solvent, phthalic anhydride, catalysts, mono ethyl glycol, aniline (including PNA, ONA, OCPNA), alcohols, fatty acid, oleoresin, amines and plasticizers, alkyl benzene, sodium silicate, ammonia gas, organic chemicals, ethylene oxide, agro chemical formulations, ammonia liquid, polyethylene, detergent cake, washing soap cake/bar/powder, agarbatti, foundry chemicals and toilet soap. However, the prices of camphor, ammonium sulphate, additive, acetic acid and its derivatives, ammonium phosphate, epoxy, liquid and liquid air and other gaseous products, aromatic chemicals, carbon black, varnish, other inorganic chemicals, soda ash/washing soda, polyester film(metalized), polyester chips or polyethylene terepthalate (PET) chips, superphospate/phosphatic fertilizer, others, caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), adhesive (excluding gum), adhesive tape (non-medicinal), Di ammonium phosphate, mixed fertiliser, ammonium nitrate, fungicide, liquid, acrylic fibre and dye stuff/dyes (incl. dye intermediates and pigments/colours) declined.

Inflation rate for the 'pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemical and botanical products' group declined by 0.1 per cent due to lower prices of anti-retroviral drugs for HIV treatment, simvastatin, antioxidants and vials/ampoule, glass (empty or filled). However, the prices of anti-cancer drugs, antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory formulations, ayurvedic medicaments and plastic capsules moved up.

Inflation rate for the 'rubber and plastics products' group declined by 0.4 per cent due to lower prices of rubberised dipped fabric, plastic bag, plastic components, polypropylene film, conveyer belt (fibre based), plastic button, processed rubber, rubber components and parts, plastic box/container, plastic bottle, polyester film (non-metalized), rubber crumb and cycle/cycle rickshaw tyre. However, the prices of condoms, rubber tread, tractor tyre, tooth brush, plastic tape and solid rubber tyres/wheels, thermocol, elastic webbing, plastic tube (flexible/non-flexible), medium and heavy commercial vehicle tyre, PVC fittings and other accessories and rubber moulded goods moved up.

Inflation rate for the 'other non-metallic mineral products' group declined by 0.3 per cent due to lower prices of porcelain sanitary ware, graphite rod, stone, chip, white cement, ordinary portland cement, ordinary sheet glass, plain bricks, poles & posts of concrete and toughened glass. However, the prices of non-ceramic tiles, railway sleeper, cement blocks (concrete), electric insulating material, glass bottle, ceramic tiles (vitrified tiles), clinker and cement superfine moved up.

Inflation rate for the 'basic metals' group rose 2.2 per cent due to higher prices of sponge iron/direct reduced iron (DRI), pig iron, mild steel (MS) blooms , angles, channels, sections, steel (coated/not) and MS pencil ingots, hot rolled (HR) coils and sheets (including narrow strip, GP/GC sheet, MS wire rods, other ferro alloys and stainless steel tubes), copper metal/copper rings, cold rolled (CR) coils & sheets (including narrow strip), ferrosilicon, ferromanganese, alloy steel wire rods, alloy steel castings, brass metal/sheet/coils, MS castings and aluminium castings, silicomanganese, rails, aluminium alloys, aluminium shapes - bars/rods/flats, aluminium metal, copper shapes - bars/rods/plates/strips, steel cables and aluminium ingot. However, the prices of steel forgings – rough and stainless steel coils, strips and sheets, lead ingots, bars, blocks, plates and ferrochrome declined.

Inflation rate for the 'fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment' group declined by 0.2 per cent due to lower prices of steel containers, steel drums and barrels, electrical stamping- laminated or otherwise, brackets and hand tools. However, the prices of sanitary fittings of iron and steel, bolts, screws, nuts and nails of iron and steel, steel pipes, tubes and poles, steel door, stainless steel utensils and lock/padlock moved up.

Inflation rate for the 'computer, electronic and optical products' group declined by 0.3 per cent due to lower prices of telephone sets (including mobile handsets, meter (non-electrical). However, the prices of sunglasses and scientific time keeping device and watch moved up.

Inflation rate for the 'electrical equipment' group rose 0.2 per cent due to higher prices of rotor/magneto rotor assembly, jelly filled cables and insulator, copper wire, generators and alternators, batteries, electric switch, electric filament type lamps, electric switch gear control/starter, safety fuse, aluminium wire, rubber insulated cables, electric mixers/grinders/food processors and domestic gas stove. However, the prices of electric heaters, aluminium/alloy conductor, electric wires and cables and ACSR conductors declined.

Inflation rate for the 'motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers' group rose 0.2 per cent due to higher prices of crankshaft, radiators and coolers, gear box and parts, chassis of different vehicle types, piston ring/piston and compressor and engine. However, the prices of seat for motor vehicles, axles of motor vehicles, wheels/wheels and parts and shafts of all kinds declined.

Inflation rate for the 'other transport equipment' group rose 0.3 per cent due to higher prices of scooters. However, the price of bicycles of all types declined.

Inflation rate for the 'furniture' group declined by 0.2 per cent due to lower prices of foam and rubber mattress, plastic fixtures and wooden furniture. However, the prices of steel shutter gate, iron/steel furniture moved up.

Inflation for the 'other manufacturing' group declined by 0.9 per cent due to lower prices of playing cards, gold and gold ornaments, cricket bat and non-mechanical toys. However, the prices of stringed musical instruments (incl. santoor, guitars, etc.), silver, plastic moulded toys, cricket ball, football and carrom board moved up.

The rate of inflation based on WPI Food Index consisting of ‘food articles’ from primary articles group and ‘food product’ from the `manufactured products’ group declined from 11.05 per cent in December 2019 to 10.12 per cent in January 2020.

The final wholesale price inflation rate for 'all commodities' (Base: 2011-12=100) for November 2019 remained unchanged at its provisional level of 0.58 per cent as reported on 16 December 2019.