Inflation rate rises to 1.21 per cent

The annual rate of inflation based on the wholesale price index stood at 1.21 per cent (provisional) for the week ended 10 October 2009 against 0.92 per cent (provisional) for the previous week and 11.30 per cent during the corresponding week of the previous year (ended11 October 2008).

Build up of inflation in the financial year so far was higher at 5.95 per cent compared to a build up of 5.56 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous year. The 52-week average inflation for the week ended 10 October 2009 was 2.49 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 242.2 (provisional) from 241.9 (provisional) for the previous week.

The index for the `primary articles' group rose 0.3 per cent to 273.5 (provisional) from 272.8 (provisional) for the previous week.

Among primary articles, the index for the 'food articles' group rose 0.6 per cent to 278.6 (provisional) from 277.0.

(provisional) for the previous week due to higher prices of fish-marine (14 per cent), moong (5 per cent), rice (3 per cent) and urad, arhar and wheat (1 per cent each). However, the prices of fruits and vegetables (-2 per cent) and jowar and bajra (-1 per cent each) declined.