Wholesale price index stood at 3.07 pct in April: Commerce ministry

The annual rate of inflation based on wholesale price index stood at 3.07 per cent in April compared to 3.18 per cent in March, the government said on Tuesday. It was 3.62 per cent in April last year, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

The official wholesale price index for all commodities (base: 2011-12=100) for April 2019 rose by 0.8 per cent to 120.9 from 120.9 for the previous month. Build up inflation rate in the financial year so far was 0.75 per cent compared to a build-up rate of 0.86 per cent in the corresponding period of the previous year.

The index for primary articles group (with a weight of 22.6 per cent) rose by 3.3 per cent to 139.2 from 134.7 for March. Under this, the index for food articles group rose by 3.4 per cent due to higher price of tea by 15 per cent, fruits and vegetables by 14 per cent, peas and chawali by 6 per cent, maize by 5 per cent, poultry chicken by 4 per cent, arhar, bajra and pork by 3 per cent each), gram, condiments and spices by 2 per cent each, masur, urad, mutton and rajma by 1 per cent each.

However, prices of egg declined by 6 per cent, betel leaves by 4 per cent, barley and wheat by 3 per cent each), beef and buffalo meat by 1 per cent each. The index for non-food articles' group rose by 2.6 per cent to 126.7 from 123.5 during March.

The index for fuel and power group (with weightage of over 13 per cent) declined by 0.5 per cent to 102.8 from 103.3 in March. The index for mineral oils' group rose by 0.4 per cent to 95.4 from 95 in March due to higher price of LPG by 5 per cent, naphtha by 3 per cent, petrol and kerosene 2 per cent each and ATF 1 per cent. However, the price of petroleum coke declined by 3 per cent, furnace oil 2 per cent and HSD 1 per cent.

The index for electricity group declined by 3.1 per cent to 107.3 from 110.7 for March due to lower price of electricity by 3 per cent. On Monday, the government said consumer inflation picked up to 2.92 per cent in April as against 2.86 per cent in March. However, it remained within the 4 per cent comfort zone of Reserve Bank of India.

(With inputs from agencies.)