Mumbai: The rate of inflation based on the wholesale price index fell for the fifth straight week to 5.06 per cent, its lowest in seven months, as prices of food items declined.

Inflation rate, at 5.06 per cent for the week ended May 19, also was close to the year-ago level of 5.05 per cent.

The inflation rate stood at 5.27 per cent for the preceding week.

The inflation rate fell due to base effect, despite the fact that the wholesale price indices for all major groups, which determine the wholesale price index, rose. In fact, the aggregate Wholesale Price Index went up by 0.1 per cent to 211.9 points during the week from 211.7 points a week ago.

At specific levels, food articles group index rose by 0.1 per cent, non-food articles group index by 0.3 per cent, minerals index by 0.1 per cent, fuel, power, light and lubricants index by 0.1 per cent and manufactured products index by 0.1 per cent.

But the inflation fell because price movements are compared with those of corresponding period last year. And on high inflation base of 5.05 per cent last year, even rising prices resulted in inflation of 5.06 per cent for the week under review.

Prices of some food articles declined — cereals by 0.2 per cent, pulses by 0.4 per cent, processed tea by nine per cent, khandsari by four per cent, sugar by two per cent, butter and gur by one per cent each.

On the other hand, malted food was more expensive by 15 per cent, vegetables by 1.1 per cent and fruits by 0.5 per cent.