The official Wholesale Price Index for 'All Commodities' (Base: 2004-05=100) for the month of December, 2010 rose by 1.3 percent to 144.1 (Provisional) from 142.3 (Provisional) for the previous month.

INFLATION

The annual rate of inflation, based on monthly WPI, stood at 8.43% (Provisional) for the month of December, 2010 (over December, 2009) as compared to 7.48% (Provisional) for the previous month and 6.92% during the corresponding month of the previous year. Build up inflation in the financial year so far was 6.11% compared to a build up of 7.87% in the corresponding period of the previous year.

Inflation for important commodities / commodity groups is indicated below.  The movement of the index for the various commodity groups is summarized below:-

PRIMARY ARTICLES (Weight 20.12%)

The index for this major group rose by 3.5 percent to 188.9 (Provisional) from 182.6 (Provisional) for the previous month.  The groups and items for which the index showed variations during the month are as follows:-

The index for 'Food Articles' group rose by 3.7 percent to 186.9 (Provisional) from 180.2  (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of fruits & vegetables and condiments & spices (11% each), barley  and poultry chicken (4% each), bajra (3%), gram, maize, jowar and fish-inland (2% each) and beef & buffalo meat, mutton, milk, moong, ragi and pork (1% each).  However, the prices of masur (5%), arhar (4%), urad and egg (2% each) and fish-marine (1%) declined.

The index for 'Non-Food Articles' group rose by 2.3 percent to 171.6 (Provisional) from 167.7  (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of raw silk (13%), sunflower (10%), logs & timber (9%), jasmine (8%), copra and rose (7% each), soyabean (6%), castor seed (4%),   coir fibre, raw cotton, raw jute, marigold and niger seed (3% each), raw rubber and gingelly seed (2 % each) and rape & mustard seed (1%).  However, the prices of fodder (2%) and cotton seed and groundnut seed (1% each) declined.

The index for 'Minerals' group rose by 3.4 percent to 255.5 (Provisional) from 247.1 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of zinc concentrate (15%), copper ore (13%), magnesite (8%), gypsum (7%), barytes (3%) and iron ore, crude petroleum and limestone (2% each).  However, the prices of bauxite (6%), sillimanite (3%) and chromite (1%) declined.

FUEL & POWER (Weight 14.91%)

The index for this major group rose by 1.0 percent to 150.1 (Provisional) from 148.6 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of light diesel oil and furnace oil (6% each), aviation turbine fuel, naphtha and bitumen (5% each) and petrol (3%).

MANUFACTURED PRODUCTS (Weight 64.97%)

The index for this major group rose by 0.4 percent to 128.9 (Provisional) from 128.4 (Provisional) for the previous month. The groups and items for which the index showed variations during the month are as follows:-

The index for 'Food Products' group rose by 0.8 percent to 142.7 (Provisional) from 141.5 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of wheat bran (4%), bagasse, vanaspati, soyabean oil and sunflower oil (3% each), salt, rice bran oil, sugar, wheat flour (atta) and copra oil (2% each) and ice cream, molasses, khandsari and palm oil (1% each).  However, the prices of groundnut oil cake (3%), gur, vegetables seeds and rice bran extraction (2% each) and tea leaf (unblended), mixed spices, butter, canned fish, canned meat and ghee (1% each) declined.

The index for 'Beverages, Tobacco & Tobacco Products' group declined by 0.1 percent to 144.4 (Provisional) from 144.5 (Provisional) for the previous month due to lower prices of dried tobacco (1%).  However, the prices of non-alcoholic beverages (all types) (1%) moved up.

The index for 'Textiles' group rose by 1.4 percent to 118.9 (Provisional) from 117.3 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of coir mats & matting (13%), woollen yarn (6%), cotton yarn (unbleached) (5%), cotton yarn (dyed) (4%), polyester yarn (3%), cotton towel cloth, viscose yarn, gunny and hessian cloth and finished / processed cotton yarn (not knitted) (2% each) and nylon yarn, synthetic yarn, acrylic yarn, jute sacking bag, cotton textiles dyed/printed, polyester staple fibre, viscose staple fibre, texturised and twisted yarn, jute sacking cloth and woollen  shawls (1% each).

The index for 'Wood & Wood Products' group rose by 1.8 percent to 150.8 (Provisional) from 148.2 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of plywood board (5%) and sawn timber posts / squares (1%).

The index for 'Paper & Paper Products' group declined by 0.1 percent to 125.6 (Provisional) from 125.7 (Provisional) for the previous month due to lower prices of newspaper (3%) and bristle paper board (1%).  However, the prices of maplitho paper, laminated paper and books/ periodicals/ journals (1% each) moved up.

The index for 'Leather & Leather Products' group rose by 0.1 percent to 128.0 (Provisional) from 127.9 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of chrome tanned leather (1%).

The index for 'Rubber & Plastic Products' group rose by 0.1 percent to 125.1 (Provisional) from 125.0 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of rubber moulded goods (6%), plastic/pvc chappals and rubber brakes (2% each) and plastic/ ldpe/polythene bag, tractor tyre and reclaimed rubber (1% each).  However, the prices of hdpe woven sacks (3%) and hdpe bag and polyester film (1% each) declined.

The index for 'Chemicals & Chemical Products' group rose by 0.4 percent to 123.5 (Provisional) from 123.0 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of fatty alcohol (29%), polyol (6%), formaldehyde (5%), petrochemical building blocks, carbon disulphide and chlorine (3% each), caustic soda & soda ash, non-cyclic compound, titanium dioxide and aromatic chemicals (2% each) and ink, fatty acid, additives, organic solvent, hair / body oils, di-calcium phosphate, dye & dye intermediates, sodium salt and turpentine oil (1% each).  However, the prices of synthetic resin (3%) and phenol / phenol extract, alumina & aluminium salt, acid (inorganic) and other inorganic chemicals (1% each) declined.

The index for 'Non-Metallic Mineral Products' group declined by 0.1 percent to 144.4 (Provisional) from 144.5 (Provisional) for the previous month due to lower prices of grey cement, fibre glass & glass sheet and polished granite (1% each). 

The index for 'Basic Metals, Alloys & Metal Products' group rose by 0.3 percent to 134.5 (Provisional) from 134.1 (Provisional) for the previous month due to higher prices of crc (7%),     silver (6%), nuts/bolts/screw/ washers (4%), cylinder liners, iron & steel wire and gold & gold ornaments (2% each) and pig iron, melting scrap, sponge iron, aluminium & alloys and non-ferrous casting & forging (1% each).  However, the prices of zinc (5%) and hrc, cylinder and wire rods (1 % each) declined.

 The index for 'Transport, Equipment & Parts' group rose by 0.1 percent to 119.7 (Provisional) from 119.6 (Provisional) for the previous month due to increase in prices of tractor (0.4%) and motor cycle / scooter / moped (0.3%). However, there were decline in prices of piston & compressor and engine assembly & chassis (1% each).

FINAL INDEX FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER, 2010 (BASE YEAR: 2004-05=100)

For the month of October, 2010 the final Wholesale Price Index for 'All Commodities' (Base: 2004-05=100) stood at 142.4  as compared to 141.7 (Provisional) and annual rate of inflation based on final index stood at 9.12 percent as compared to 8.58 percent (Provisional) reported on 15.11.2010.

Next date of press release: 14/02/2011 for the month of January, 2011

Wholesale Price Index and Rates of Inflation (Base Year: 2004-05=100)

DS/MRS