The annual rate of inflation (provisional), calculated on a year-on-year basis, stood at 8.84 per cent for the week ended 15 November 2008 (over 17 Nov 2007) against 8.90 per cent for the previous week and 3.35 per cent during the corresponding week last year.

According to the latest figures released by New Delhi's office of the economic adviser in the ministry of commerce and industry, the official wholesale price index for 'all commodities' (base: 1993-94=100) for the week ended 15 November 2008 rose 0.04 per cent to 235.1 from 235.0 for the previous week. Both these are provisional numbers.

The movement of the index for the various commodity groups is summarised below:

The index for the major primary articles group (weight 22.02 per cent) rose by 0.1 per cent to 250.2 (provisional) from 250.0 (provisional) for the previous week.

The groups and items for which the index showed variations during the week were: food Articles up 0.1 per cent to 244.6 from 244.3 in the previous week due to higher prices of moong, rice and bajra (3 per cent each), ragi (2 per cent) and masur, maize and fruits and vegetables (1 per cent each).  The good news: the prices of fish-marine declined 12 per cent and gram and tea 2 per cent each.

The index for  'non-food articles' rose marginally to 235.8 (provisional) from 235.7  for the previous week due to higher prices of soyabean (11 per cent), gingelly seed and castor seed (2 per cent each) and linseed (1 per cent). The prices of raw rubber declined (by 4 per cent), those of cottonseed, groundnut seed and raw cotton were down 2 per cent each, and raw silk 1 per cent.

The Y-on-Y rate of inflation, for 'primary articles' stood at 11.90 per cent (provisional for the week ended 8 November 2008, against 11.66 per cent in the previous week. It was 4.68 per cent a year ago.

The annual rate of inflation for food articles stood at 9.93 per cent (provisional) for the week ended 15 November 2008 against 9.31 per cent in the previous week; it was 2.63 a year ago.

The index for the major group fuel, power, light and lubricants (weight 14.23 per cent) remained unchanged at its previous week's level of 353.3.

The index for the major group manufactured products (weight 63.75 per cent) rose 0.05 per cent to 203.5 (provisional) from 203.4 the previous week. The groups and items for which the index showed variations during the week are as follows: food products declined 0.1 per cent to 201.6 from 201.9 the previous week due to lower prices of cotton seed oil (5 per cent), imported edible oil (4 per cent), rice bran oil (3 per cent) and gur (2 per cent). However, prices rose for all kinds of bran (5 per cent), gingelly oil (4 per cent), sooji, or rawa (2 per cent), and salt and atta (1 per cent each).

The index for the textiles group rose 1.0 per cent to 141.8 (provisional) from 140.4 the previous week due to higher prices of cotton yarn cones and hessian and sacking bags (4 per cent each), texturised yarn (2 per cent) and hessian cloth and cotton yarn hanks (1 per cent each).  The prices of synthetic yarn declined 2 per cent.

The index for the rubber and plastic products group declined by 0.2 per cent to 168.2 (provisional) from 168.6 the previous week due to lower prices of PVC fittings and accessories (down 12 per cent).

The index for the chemicals and chemical products group rose 0.3 per cent to 223.9 (provisional) from 223.2 the previous week due to higher prices of acetylene (70 per cent) and oxygen (8 per cent). The prices of vitamin liquids declined 4 per cent.

The index for the basic metals alloys and metal products group declined 0.6 per cent to 284.1 (provisional) from 285.7 the previous week due to lower prices of ferrosilicon (24 per cent), steel ingots (plain carbon) (16 per cent), basic pig iron and foundry pig iron (7 per cent each), zinc (3 per cent), steel sheets, plates and strips (2 per cent) and MS bars and rounds (1 per cent). However, the prices of joist and rolls and other iron steel (3 per cent each) moved up.

The index for the machinery and machine tools group rose 0.3 per cent to 177.1 (provisional) from 176.6 the previous week due to higher prices of other electrical equipment and systems (9 per cent).

For the week ended 20 September 2008, the final wholesale price index for 'all commodities' (base: 1993-94=100) stood at 241.3 compared to 241.0 (provisional) and the annual rate of inflation based on final index, calculated on a point to point basis, stood at 12.13 per cent compared to 11.99 per cent (provisional) reported.