India’s wholesale price inflation edges higher to 1.48% in October

Inflation rate for the primary articles group, which has a weight of 22.62 per cent in the wholesale price index, increased by 1.40 per cent in October 2020. Among primary articles, prices of non-food articles, food articles and minerals increased in October 2020 compared to the previous month while prices of crude petroleum and natural gas remained unchanged.

Inflation rate for the fuel and power grpup, which has a weight of 13.15 per cent in the wholesale price index increased in October 2020  from September as prices of electricity increased in October, 2020 compared to September. Prices of mineral oils declined in October compared to September while prices of coal remained unchanged.

Inflation rate for the manufactured products group that has a weight of 64.23 per cent in the wholesale price index, increased in October 2020 from September. 

Out of the 22 groups in the  manufactured products, 13 groups, including food products, textiles, wearing apparel, printing and reproduction of recorded media, chemicals and chemical products, pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemical and botanical products, rubber and plastic products, basic metals, fabricated metal products, except machinery and equipment, electrical equipment, machinery and equipment, other transport equipment and furniture, have witnessed increase in prices in October 2020 whereas nine groups, including beverages, tobacco products, leather and related products, wood and of products of wood and cork, paper and paper products, other non-metallic mineral products, computer, electronic and optical products, motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers and other manufacturing,  have witnessed decrease in prices in October 2020.

Inflation rate for the food articles consisting of 'food articles' from primary articles group and 'food product' from manufactured products group, which has a weight of 24.38 per cent in the wholesale price index, decreased from 6.92 per cent in September 2020 to 5.78 per cent in October.

The final wholesale price inflation rate for 'All Commodities' (Base: 2011-12=100) in August stood at 0.41 per cent as per revised figures.

The WPI for October 2020 has been compiled at a weighted response rate of 78 per cent, while the final figure for August 2020 is based on the weighted response rate of 91 per cent. The provisional figures of WPI will undergo revision as per the final revision policy of WPI.