Inflation rate a tad higher at -1.17 per cent

The annual rate of inflation based on the wholesale price index stood at -1.17 per cent (provisional) for the week ended 11 July 2009 against -1.21 per cent (provisional) for the previous week (ended 4 July 2009).

Inflation rate for the corresponding week of the previous year (week ended 12 July 2008) was 12.13 per cent.

The official wholesale price index for 'all commodities' (base: 1993-94 = 100) for the week under review rose 0.1 per cent to 236.7 (provisional) from 236.4 (provisional) for the previous week.

The index for the primary articles group rose 0.7 per cent to 260.3 (provisional) from 258.5 (provisional) for the previous week.

Within the primary articles group, the index for the 'food articles' group rose 0.9 per cent to 255.9 (provisional) from 253.6 (provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of fish-marine (9 per cent), fruits and vegetables (3 per cent) and condiments and spices, maize and rice (1 per cent each). However, the prices of tea and wheat (1 per cent each) declined.

The index for 'non-food articles' group rose 0.3 per cent to 238.4 (provisional) from 237.7 (provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of copra (3 per cent), raw silk (2 per cent), soyabean, raw cotton and linseed (1 per cent each). However, the prices of raw wool (-2 per cent) and sunflower, raw rubber and gingelly seed (-1 per cent each) declined.