17-per cent food inflation pushes overall inflation to 7.31 per cent

After a three week hiatus, food inflation is again on an upswing,  rising to 17 per cent on 16 January from 16.81 per cent a week earlier, on the back of rebounding prices of eggs and vegetables.

It was at the 20 per cent mark in December, the highest in a decade.

High food prices have also led to higher overall inflation which rose to 7.31 per cent in December from 4.78 per cent in November; overall inflation was at a sub-zero levels for 13 weeks till September last year.

On a weekly basis, the index for food articles rose by 0.4 per cent due to higher prices of eggs (6 per cent), vegetables (2.1 per cent), condiments and spices (2 per cent) and bajra and jowar (1 per cent each) while inflation for primary articles including food and non-food items was at 14.66 per cent in the reporting week.

Potato prices have risen 57.56 per cent over the last year, followed by pulses that have become costlier by 46.87 per cent.

The annual rate of inflation for fuel, power, light and lubricants was down to 5.7 per cent over the week ended 16 January from 6.34 per cent for the previous week.