The annual rate of inflation based on the wholesale price index remained little changed at 7.82 per cent for the week ended May 10 against 7.83 per cent in the previous week.

The real rate of price rise has, however, been much higher than the provisional estimates even as early as 15 March, the period for which the government has now released final inflation figures.

According to the final figures, inflation stood at 8.02 per cent for the week ended 15 March against the provisional 6.68 per cent.

The inflation rate was 5.62 per cent for the corresponding week a year ago.

While prices in general have been high, the only relief to the consumer was that prices of fruits, vegetables and pulses began declining and the prices of steel and cement remained static.

Fruit prices declined by 0.4 per cent, vegetables by 3.2 per cent and pulses by 0.7 per cent during the week.

The prices of tea and spices have moved up and cereal prices increased by 0.5 per cent in the wholesale market.

The prices of essential commodities like rice, maize and wheat moved by one per cent while eggs, meat and fish rose by 0.5 per cent.

Despite a ban on export of skimmed milk powder, the domestic prices went up by one per cent. At the same time, the prices of soyabean oil jumped by 10 per cent.

The prices of cotton shirting have gone up by 14 per cent though the raw cotton prices moved only by 2 per cent.

The prices of auto components shot up by 9-21 per cent, despite cut in steel prices announced by manufacturers.

Prices of electric items also witnessed an upward movement as dry cells and electric generators got dearer by four per cent each.

Raw rubber prices went up by as much as eight per cent within a week, which may result in further hike in tyre and other rubber products in the retail market.

There was a downward movement as far as the prices of edible oil and sugar was concerned. Sugar, mustard oil and groundnut oil prices declined by one per cent each.

Industrial fuel prices, which are linked to international crude oil prices that crossed $135 a barrel, rose with aviation turbine fuel rates alone surging by 10 per cent.

Fuel, power, light and lubricants index as a whole went up by 0.1 per cent during the week under review.

The prime minister's economic advisory panel today said inflation would remain high for another 3-4 months before cooling off to 5.5 per cent by end of this fiscal.