The monthly WPI shows food products untouched by Inflation

New Delhi: The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly Wholesale Price Index, stood at 5.28 per cent for October 2018 as compared to 5.13 per cent for the previous month and 3.68 per cent during the corresponding month of the previous year. 

The official Wholesale Price Index for 'All Commodities' for the month of October 2018 rose by 0.7 per cent from the previous month, according to the data released by the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Wednesday.

Build up inflation rate in the financial year so far was 4.64 per cent compared to a build up rate of 2.12 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The index for primary articles rose by 0.7 per cent compared to the previous month. The index for 'Food Articles' group rose by 0.9 per cent compared to previous month but for 'Non-Food Articles' group declined by 1.1 per cent due to lower price of floriculture, copra (coconut) , raw silk and skins (raw) , tobacco, raw rubber and hides (raw) among others.

The index for 'Minerals' group declined by 4.3 per cent compared to the previous month due to lower price of garnet, sillimanite , copper concentrate, iron ore among others.

The index for 'Crude Petroleum & Natural Gas' group rose by 4.1 per cent compared to the previous month due to higher price of crude petroleum.

The index for fuel and power rose by 3.6 per cent while for 'Electricity' group rose by 2.6 per cent compared to the previous month due to higher price of electricity.

The index for 'Manufacture of Food Products' group rose by 0.1 per cent due to higher price of other meats, preserved/processed, castor oil among others.

The index for 'Manufacture of Beverages' group rose by 0.4 per cent due to higher price of rectified spirit and country liquor .

The index for 'Manufacture of Tobacco Products' group rose by 0.7 per cent due to higher price of cigarette and other tobacco products.

The index for 'Manufacture of Textiles' group rose by 0.1 per cent ,  'Manufacture of Wearing Apparel' group rose by 0.7 per cent , 'Manufacture of Leather and Related Products' group declined by 0.8 percent and 'Manufacture of Wood and of Products of Wood and Cork ' group declined by 0.7 per cent,  'Manufacture of Paper and Paper Products' group rose by 0.6 per cent.

The index for 'Printing and Reproduction of Recorded Media' group declined by 1.0 per cent while for for 'Manufacture of Chemicals and Chemical Products' group rose by 0.9 percent  compared to previous month.

The index for 'Manufacture of Pharmaceuticals, Medicinal Chemical and Botanical Products' group rose by 0.9 percent while for 'Manufacture of Computer, Electronic and Optical Products' group declined by 0.1 per cent compared to previous month.

The index for 'Manufacture of Motor Vehicles, Trailers and Semi-Trailers' group declined by 0.6 per cent but  'Manufacture of Other Transport Equipment' group rose by 0.5 per cent

The rate of inflation based on WPI Food Index consisting of 'Food Articles' from Primary Articles group and 'Food Product' from Manufactured Products group decreased from 0.14 per cent in September 2018 to -0.64 per cent in October 2018.

In August 2018,  for 'All Commodities' annual rate of inflation stood at 4.62 per cent as compared to 4.53 per cent (provisional) respectively as reported on September 14, the statement added.(UNI)