Mumbai: The annual rate of inflation based on the wholesale price index surged to 12.44 per cent during the week ended 2 August from 12.01 per cent the week before.

The increase was mainly due to higher prices of fruit and fuel. Some items in the manufactured goods category also became expensive.

Inflation rate was at 4.39 per cent a year ago while that for the week ended 7 June was revised from 11.05 per cent to 11.66 per cent.

While fruit prices went up by 8.9 per cent, pulses became dearer by 1.4 per cent during the week.

Price of light diesel oil rose substantially by 16 per cent, while prices of bitumen and furnace oil rose 8 per cent and that of aviation turbine fuel by 3 per cent.

Among food items, cereals became costlier by 0.5 per cent and condiments turned expensive by 2.6 per cent. Prices of vegetables, however, declined by 3.7 per cent.