WPI Inflation stays below zero at -1.14 per cent

The annual rate of wholesale inflation based on the wholesale price index stood at -1.14 per cent (provisional) for the week ended 13 June 2009, up 0.47 points from -1.61 per cent (provisional) for the previous week (ended 6 June 2009). Inflation rate stood at 11.80 per cent during the corresponding week of the previous year (ended 14 June 2008).

The official wholesale price index for 'all commodities' (base: 1993-94 = 100) for the week under review rose 0.6 per cent to 234.2 (provisional) from 232.7 (provisional) for the previous week.

The index for the `primary articles' group rose 0.1 per cent to 256.3 (provisional) from 256.0 (provisional) for the previous week.

The index for 'food articles' group rose 0.2 per cent to 251.2 (provisional) from 250.8 (provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of tea and jowar (2 per cent each) and arhar (1 per cent). However, the prices of bajra (-4 per cent) and eggs (-2 per cent) declined.

Among primary articles, the index for 'non-food articles' group rose marginally to 236.0 (provisional) from 235.9 (provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of raw jute (2 per cent) and raw silk and rape and mustard seed (1 per cent each). However, the prices of copra (-1 per cent) declined.

The index for the `fuel, power, light and lubricants' group rose 0.4 per cent to 327.5 (provisional) from 326.2 (provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of aviation turbine fuel (12 per cent), light diesel oil (10 per cent), furnace oil (3 per cent) and naphtha (1 per cent). However, the prices of bitumen (-2 per cent) declined.