Mumbai: The annual rate of inflation based on the wholesale price index declined to 11.99 per cent for the week ending 20 September from 12.14 per cent the week earlier.

The inflation rate has been ruling above 12 per cent for the past 12 weeks.  Inflation rate for the same period in the previous year was significantly lower at 3.51 per cent.

In the 'primary articles' group, the annual point-to-point inflation declined to 11.29 per cent, as compared to 11.56 per cent reported last week. Out of a total of 98 articles, 16 articles have shown a decline in prices in the current week as compared to the previous week. These included among others, rice, wheat, maize, gram, urad, potatoes, onions, groundnut and caster seed, rubber, black pepper, brinjal and papaya. Another 60 articles have shown no increase in prices.

In the commodity group 'fuel and power', the rate of inflation declined to 16.52 per cent compared to 16.66 per cent in the previous week. Prices of all the 19 commodities remained unchanged in the current week.

In the case of 'manufactured products', the rate of inflation declined to 10.55 per cent, as compared to 10.61 per cent in previous weeks. Out of 318 commodities 284 have shown no increase in prices over the last week. In the case of 12 commodities, there has been a decline in prices. These commodities include rice bran, cottonseed, mustard, groundnut, coconut and imported edible oils, deoiled cake, sugar and khandsari, steel sheets, plates and strips, and suitcases.

Only 22 products, particularly MS bars and rounds, basic and foundry pig iron, lead and zinc ingots, acids, some items of iron and steel, pulp, maplitho paper, truck and bus chassis, textile machinery parts and safety matches witnessed an increase in prices.

Prices of 30 essential commodities increased to 7.70 per cent from 7.58 per cent reported in the earlier week. There was, however, a decline in the prices of cereals, gram and urad, sugar and edible oils.   

Wholesale price index has fallen to 241 from 241.4. The final inflation figure for week ended 25 July has been revised to 12.53 per cent from 12.01 per cent (provisional).