Food price inflation edges lower to 16.22 per cent

The annual rate of inflation based on the wholesale price index of food articles in India dropped further to 16.22 per cent during the week ended 13 March 2010 from 16.30 per cent in the previous week.

Built-up inflation for the `food articles' group during the financial year so far was 15.94 per cent against 6.70 per cent in the comparable week of the previous financial year.

Food inflation in the country stood at 7.46 per cent during the comparable week of the previous year.

The index for the 'food articles' group rose 0.1 per cent to 283.0 (provisional) from 282.6 (provisional) in the previous week due to higher prices of moong and pork (5 per cent each), urad (4 per cent), coffee (2 per cent) and fruits and vegetables (1 per cent). However, the prices of masur (-4 per cent) and eggs, bajra, condiments and spices and maize (-1 per cent each) declined.

The inflation rate based on the wholesale price index of non-food articles for the week ended 13 March 2010 stood at 11.06 per cent against 13.99 per cent during the previous week and 8.18 per cent in the comparable week of the previous year.

Built-up inflation for the `non-food articles' group during the financial year so far was 10.33 per cent against 12.68 per cent in the previous week and 5.18 per cent in the comparable week of the previous financial year.